Retour Château Smith Haut Lafitte - Pessac-Léognan - Red - 2019
COUNTRY/REGION: Bordeaux
DESIGNATION: AOP Pessac-Léognan
COLOR: Red
VINTAGE: 2019
GRAPE VARIETY: (59%) Cabernet sauvignon, (36%) merlot, (4%) cabernet franc, (1%) petit verdot
ALCOHOL: 14.5 vol.
CONTENT: 75 cl
The tasting
Color Deep garnet red.
Nose A beautifully intense nose of ripe black fruit, with notes of cedar and spicy, smoky flavours.
Palate Generous and velvety, this wine reveals refined, perfectly integrated tannins, with deep, concentrated fruit flavors enhanced by a long, fresh finish.
The sommelier's advice
Temperature Serve between 14 and 16°C.
Food Beef rib, roast guinea fowl, pan-fried duck breast with blackcurrant sauce, pulled pork with spices.
Cellar ageing From now until 2035.
The estate and the wine
The estate and the wine A standout estate in Pessac-Léognan, Château Smith Haut Lafitte holds a special place among wine lovers. Under the vision of its owners, Daniel and Florence Cathiard, the estate has pioneered a "bio-precision" approach—blending the best of nature and science to cultivate wines of exceptional quality.
Wine The 2019 Château Smith Haut Lafitte stands among the finest wines of Pessac-Léognan, showcasing its signature balance of power and refinement. The nose is remarkably intense, revealing aromas of ripe black fruit, violet, and cedar, layered with subtle smoky and spicy notes, a hallmark of its terroir. On the palate, the harmony is impeccable. The texture is velvety and expansive, carried by fine, perfectly integrated tannins. The concentrated black fruit flavors unfold with precision, enhanced by a vibrant freshness and an impressively long finish. The finale is elegant and complex, revealing hints of graphite, blond tobacco, and black pepper, with an almost endless persistence. Decant in its youth to fully enjoy its generosity, or cellar for decades to witness its evolution into a wine of true grandeur.
Vinification Hand harvested. Vinification in small wooden vats at 28°C. Aged on lees for 18 months in barrels (60% new).
AWARDS
AWARDS Estate rated 2 stars in the Guide Des Meilleurs Vins de France 2025 RVF
Estate rated 5 stars in the Guide Bettane+Desseauve 2025
Robert Parker: 96/100