Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Cru Classé Pessac Léognan, 2016

Tasting Note:

Florence Cathiard referred to 2016 as 'the catastrophe that never was… As with politics, nothing happened as expected, but in our vineyard everything turned out well in the end!’ This is yet another very smart Smith Haut Lafitte. This estate continues to produces sexy wines, but always preserves a sense of modesty; these are generous, but never tarty. The 2016 is fashioned from 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot and will be aged in 60% new oak barrels. There is a glorious bouquet of kirsch, crème de cassis, graphite and clove. This is really seductive and silky. The fruit is so pure and suave, but there is plenty of underlying power and structure. Luxurious yet tense and vital, this is a very smart Smith with a very long cassis and gravel finish. Textbook SHL.