Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte 2014

JAMES SUCKLING: "A big black-cherry and bitter-chocolate nose leads into a rich, concentrated palate, where the fruit easily holds sway over the powerful, dry tannins. It’s these that drive everything along right through to the assertive, slightly earthy finish; impressive long-term stuff!"

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This is a powerful wine, made to age for a long time, from this estate which is performing in top gear. Complex tannins and dark fruits both make their presence felt. It has weight, ripeness and a dense structure. A great success, it is unlikely to be ready to drink before 2027."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Clearly better in the bottle, than when last tasted in barrel, the wine has gained complexity, depth and softness. Full bodied, fleshy and concentrated, with loads of juicy, sweet, ripe, fresh, dark fruits, smoke, licorice and oak, 4-6 years of bottle age will add a lot to this already tasty wine."

WEINWISSER: "Tiefes Purpur, satt in der Mitte, Granatschimmer am Rand. Spontan gefällt das Bouquet von allen verkosteten Léognanweinen am besten. Das Nasenbild beginnt mit einem Hauch Kokos und Caramel. Im zweiten Ansatz eine schön reife Frucht zeigend, welche zwischen roten und blauen Beeren schwingt, dann kommt eine feine hölzerne Kontur im Nasenbild. Im Gaumen stoffig, wieder mit vielen Beeren bespickt, akzentuierte Muskeln zeigend, an sich gross, aber auch etwas technisch wirkender Wein. Damit will ich sagen, dass die Jahrgangsvorgabe korrektiv angegangen wurde. Oder die extrahiert wirkenden Tannine in der Adstringenz eine ziemlich grosszügige Strenge bewirken. Er muss seine Wertung bis zu Flaschenabfüllung noch beweisen, ist somit knapp der beste Rotwein aus Léognan, muss sich aber von der Pessac-Elite geschlagen geben."

FALSTAFF: "Komplexer Duft: eine Spur Grafit und rauchig, hochreife Schwarze Johannisbeere, Minze, Rote Johannisbeere, Preiselbeere, Holunder und Sandelholz. Am Gaumen ein Paradox: enorm weich und feingliedrig-rund mit einer Spur Süße, dennoch intensiv fruchtdotiert, in seiner viskosen Art nicht ungelenk und nicht trocknend, bleibt rund und harmonisch bis zuletzt, Salzigkeit und ein mürber Hintergrund aus weichem Tannin geben Halt. Zweifellos gelungen, aber stilistisch schon sehr ungewöhnlich – und gewissermaßen postmodern: Die Frucht wirkt ohne die normalerweise sie begleitende weinige Stoffigkeit wie ein Zitat aus der Welt des Fruchtsafts."

WINE SPECTATOR: "This has a generous feel, with ripe fig, boysenberry and blueberry compote fruit flavors that are entwined with alluring roasted apple wood, melted licorice and warm fruitcake notes. The broad, mouthcoating finish has a terrific graphite underpinning to stay honest. Best from 2020 through 2035."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2014 Smith-Haut-Lafitte has a fragrant mulberry and strawberry scented bouquet with cedar and subtle undergrowth scents emerging with time. There is something almost Musigny-like here (written as a complement incidentally—why not be compared to the greatest Burgundy Grand Cru?). The palate is medium-bodied with a soft and mellow opening. Quite spicy in the mouth with leather-tinged fruit on the open and inviting finish, there is something very approachable about this Smith-Haut-Lafitte, though like the 2014 Pape-Clement, it contains the substance to drink well over 10-15 years."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2014 Smith Haut Lafitte shows the elegant style of the vintage, yet the depth of fruit that’s common from this estate. Blackberries, currants, scorched earth, spicy oak and tobacco leaf nuances give way to a medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured 2014 that has ripe tannin and nicely integrated acidity. It has tons of character and is a beautiful, elegant wine to drink over the coming 15 years or so."

DECANTER: "Even with some time in a decanter, the 2014 is closed and shy. The bouquet shows smoky and spicy notes. The palate is elegant and juicy, light- to medium-bodied with building tannins. An earthy touch emerges in the finish. However, in the context of the vintage, it's a great effort. Drinking Window 2022 - 2030"

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Very impressive combination of concentration and freshness. Real distinction here."