1961 Château Smith Haut Lafitte***
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Tasting notes
The 1961 Smith Haut Lafitte shows some bricking on the russet rim, but the core is clear. The nose is open knit with dark berry fruit, briar, sandalwood and tea leaf aromas that unfurl in the glass. The palate is not as powerful or structured as some 1961s, yet its beguiling balance and refinement are immediately appreciable. A deft touch of black olive and a kiss of candied red fruit and orange rind on the elegant finish tempt you back for more, completing an exquisite mature Smith Haut Lafitte.
Critic scores
Neal Martin
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 1961 Smith Haut Lafitte was poured from a half-bottle. It has a light and innocuous bouquet that's quite airy and a little spiritual, with vestiges of red fruit. I have fonder recollections of the 1964. The palate is well defined and elegant, demonstrating some dryness toward the slightly bitter finish. This is one of the more rustic 1961s—it's missing a bit of substance. The era is often underestimated by cognoscenti, but in this case, one wishes for a little more. Tasted at Tsui Village in Hong Kong.