Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte   Smith Haut Lafitte

2009 Smith-Haut-Lafitte

By Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte

The 2009 Smith-Haut-Lafitte from Chateau Smith-Haut-Laffite, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux

Amidst the renowned Graves region lies a jewel bedecked with ambitious vines: the Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte. And from this revered terroir, the illustrious 2009 Smith-Haut-Lafitte emerged as an embodiment of viticultural adroitness and enological savoir-faire. This particular year witnessed an alchemy that delivered abundance and concentration, propelling the 2009 vintage into the echelons of Bordelais legend.

 

A Year of Pinnacle Perfection

Unveiling the aromatic synergy of the season, the 2009 Smith-Haut-Lafitte carries whispers of dark berries, intricately married with the provocative spice of new oak—an aristocratic flair delivered in each whiff. It's a compelling tableau: ripe fruits assert themselves, magnificent in their dominance; graphite nuances lend a graphite stroke; and botanical hints of undergrowth carry you directly into the banquet halls of Bordeaux grandeur. With an opulent tapestry of merlot (55%), cabernet sauvignon (35%), cabernet franc (8%), and petit verdot (2%), this assemblage speaks both to the power of Pessac-Leognan and to a cherished vintage yielding wines predestined for long lives and high acclaim in investment circles.

 

Decanting Investment Potential

While many vintages vie for spotlight and cellar space alike, investors casting their discerning gaze upon the 2009 Smith-Haut-Lafitte can expect luminance from their yield. This wine—reflecting both an exceptional year—the magnificence that is Bordeaux: structure, poise, an embrace of complexity— portends a felicitous evolution. Such vintage distinction, coupled with Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte's disciplined craftsmanship, marks it as a beacon for collectors seeking both pleasure and providence.

In my four decades wandering through vintages and valleys, seldom has there risen before my palate a nectar so emblematic of its epoch as the 2009 Smith-Haut-Lafitte. As it stands now, with years gently rounding its tannic shoulders, it not only promises an extraordinary drinking experience but also infers significant investment gravity amidst fine wine portfolios.

Market price (CAD)

$3,500.00

12x75cl

Highest score

100

POP score

105

Scores and tasting notes

100

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 raspberries, lead pencil shavings and incense. This massive, extraordinarily rich, unctuously textured wine may be the most concentrated effort produced to date, although the 2000, 2005 and 2010 are nearly as prodigious. A gorgeous expression of Pessac-Leognan with sweet tannin, emerging charm and delicacy, and considerable power, depth, richness and authority, it should age effortlessly for 30-40+ years. Bravo!

Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate - Wine Journal

94

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: undergrowth, cigar box and touches of incense infusing the black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with grippy tannins. This is an assertive wine determined to make an impression, with a bold multi-layered finish that suggest it will need at least a decade ageing. Tasted January 2013.

Neal Martin - Wine Advocate - Wine Journal

Vintage performance