Château Smith Haut Lafitte - 2019

Tasting Notes

Colour: Intense garnet red with brilliant purple highlights.

Nose: Very expressive and elegant, with notes of ripe blackcurrant, wild blackberry and black cherry, enriched with violet, graphite, sweet spices and a noble woodiness (cedar, cocoa bean). Subtle hints of smoke and damp earth complete the aromatic complexity.

Palate: Full, fleshy attack, with fine, polished, abundant tannins. Dense and velvety mid-palate, revealing intense flavours of candied black fruit, liquorice, black pepper and chalky minerality. The finish is long, fresh and harmonious, carried by ripe acidity that perfectly balances the wine's richness.

Reviews

- James Suckling: 97/100

- Wine Advocate (Robert Parker): 96/100

- Vinous (Neal Martin): 95-97/100

- Decanter: 96/100

Suggested pairings

Ideal with roast rack of lamb with Provence herbs, fillet of beef Rossini, or roast pigeon lacquered with honey and spices. It also goes well with dishes simmered with character, such as wild boar stew with cranberries or beef stew with porcini mushrooms. For a cheese platter, try an old Mimolette, a Salers or a truffled Brie. Refined vegetarian pairings might include spinach and ricotta cannelloni au gratin or wild mushroom risotto.