2009 Smith-Haut-Lafitte Bordeaux Blend

Bordeaux Blend - 750ML
Reg: $325.00
$279.94
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REVIEWS

WA 100 JL 98 JA 97 JS 96 WS 96 NM 94 WE 94
WA 100

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, February 2012

The finest wine ever made by proprietors Daniel and Florence Cathiard the 2009 Smith-Haut-Lafitte exhibits an opaque blue/purple color in addition to a glorious nose of acacia flowers licorice charcoal blueberries black...
JL 98

TheWineCellarInsider.com, September 2019

Now, with just a few minutes of air you find truffle, smoke, fennel, black cherry, smoke and cocoa, dark chocolate notes. Full bodied, concentrated, the tannins are soft, the texture is round, the fruits are sweet, but...
JA 97

janeanson.com, June 2022

One of the vintages that saw Smith Haut Lafitte establish its dominance within the Pessac Léognan appellation, still tasting bright and full of supple, rich berry fruits. Cocoa bean, pencil lead and liqourice showcase the...
JS 96

jamessuckling.com, February 2012

Aromas of flowers dried citrus fruit and blueberries follow through to a full body with firm and silky tannins and a long long finish. Gorgeous fruit and structure. Polished and powerful. Best red ever from Smith. Best in...
WS 96

Wine Spectator, March 2012

This is really loaded with crushed plum blueberry cassis fig and blackberry paste flavors all melded together along with notes of tar pastis and violet. Very long and dark but polished and pure with terrific fruit offset...
NM 94

Neal Martin's Wine Journal, July 2013

Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Smith Haut Lafitte ‘09 offered one of the comeliest bouquets in the blind flight of Pessac-Leognan wines: more restrained but showing brilliant delineation and clarity:...
WE 94

Wine Enthusiast, September 2012

Very dense and firm this has powerful tannins as well as a blackberry jam flavor. The wine is complex full of both dark tannins and the richest fruits layered with notes of herb spice and a concentrated structure.

WINE DETAILS

Color & Type Red
Varietal Bordeaux Blend
Country France
Region Bordeaux
Sub-region Pessac Leognan
Vintage 2009
Size 750ML
Percent alcohol 14.5%
Closure Cork

As early as 1365, grapes have been grown on the property now known as Smith-Haut-Lafitte. Originally owned by the noble Bosq family, the estate was purchased in the 18th century by Scotsman George Smith. Its present name was taken from Smith and the Pessac region’s gravel plateau known as Lafitte.

In 1842, Mr. Duffour-Dubergier, mayor of Bordeaux and an enthusiastic winegrower, inherited Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte from his mother and brought the wine up to great growth status. The property changed hands again in 1958 when it was purchased by the Louis Eschenauer Company. After the Eschenaueur period came to an end, a great deal of money has been invested in the estate, particularly on the construction of a superb underground cellar holding over 1,000 barrels.

In 1990, Daniel Cathiard fell in love with the property and joined the list of prestigious owners, firmly intending to further enhance Smith-Haut-Lafitte's tradition of excellence. He combined the most modern winemaking techniques with age-old artisanal methods, including organic compost, small wooden vats, and lees-aging. Famous around the world for its wonderfully elegant red wine and the sophisticated bouquet of its white wine, Smith-Haut-Lafitte undoubtedly deserves the special care that is lavished on it.

The style of Smith-Haut-Lafitte red is classical, with a beautiful expression of Gunzian gravel terroir which gives it unique smoky notes. Elegant and structured, the red shows freshness, complexity, balance and richness.

The Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, harvested at full maturity and softly vinified to extract only the silkiest tannins, unveils its full potential after proper aging. The other grape varieties of the vineyard, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, add their own aromas and participate in the harmony of a great Cru Classe de Graves.

The 2009 Smith-Haut-Lafitte is a Bordeaux Blend wine that hails from the esteemed region of Pessac Leognan in Bordeaux, France. This red wine, with its deep and opaque blue/purple color, is a true masterpiece crafted by proprietors Daniel and Florence Cathiard. It exudes elegance and sophistication with its glorious nose filled with acacia flowers, licorice, charcoal, blueberries, black raspberries, lead pencil shavings, and incense.

Renowned wine critic Robert Parker's Wine Advocate has awarded this wine a perfect score of 100 points, declaring it the finest wine ever made by the producers. The wine is described as massive, extraordinarily rich, and unctuously textured. It is undoubtedly the most concentrated effort produced by Smith-Haut-Lafitte to date. Other critics, such as James Suckling, praise the wine's beautiful fruit and structure, calling it the best red ever from the estate.

The 2009 Smith-Haut-Lafitte is a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. It has been aged in 60% new French oak, contributing to its incredible depth and complexity. Wine critic Cory Gowan describes this wine as an ultra-concentrated blockbuster, almost port-like in its character. Bordeaux enthusiasts and New World Cabernet fans alike will be captivated by its jam-packed flavors and its potential for extensive aging.

The wine offers a dense and firm structure, with powerful yet silky tannins. It showcases flavors of crushed plum, blueberry, cassis, fig, blackberry paste, tar, pastis, and violet. The finish is long, dark, polished, and pure, leaving a lasting impression. Wine critics predict that this wine will continue to evolve and improve with age, and it is recommended to cellar it for at least a decade before enjoying.

With its impeccable balance, richness, and authority, the 2009 Smith-Haut-Lafitte is a true gem of the Bordeaux region. It is a wine that demands attention and respect, and its potential to age effortlessly for 30-40+ years is a testament to its exceptional quality. This wine is a must-have for serious collectors and enthusiasts who appreciate the finest expressions of Pessac-Leognan.