Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2016
Made In: France—Bordeaux
Product Type: Red Wine
Bottle Size: 750mL
Alcohol/Vol: 13%
Sugar Content: 5G/L
Sweetness Descriptor: XD
VINTAGES#: 0532200
Program Type: Bordeaux Futures
The 2016 Smith-Haut-Lafitte is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot that was picked between 29 September and 19 October at 35 hectoliters per hectare. It is being matured in 60% new oak for a total of 18 months. 'We have never been so proud of our Cabernet Sauvignon,' winemaker Fabien Tietgen told me. Now, this has a much subtler bouquet than recent vintages, you could argue, more intellectual than the 2015 Smith-Haut-Lafitte. First there are aromas of blackberry, briary and just a hint of iodine, then underneath that, marine-like aromas such as freshly shucked oyster shells, pressed flowers and a touch of brown spice. There is wonderful delineation here. The palate is medium-bodied with plenty of tightly-wound black fruit, intermingling with smoke, black pepper, spice box and a touch of bay leaf. This is an extremely precise Smith-Haut-Lafitte, certainly a cerebral 2016 that might well be approachable young, yet will certainly age in consummate style. The château's own tasting note reads 'What more could one possibly want from a wine?' The answer to that is: 'Another bottle.' Drink Date: 2023-2050. Score - 96-98. (Neal Martin, robertparker.com)
Prices subject to change without notice. Prices include container deposit fees where applicable. % Alcohol/Volume subject to change without notice.