2025 Smith Haut Lafitte
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Tasting notes
The 2025 Smith Haut Lafitte was picked between September 3 and 30 at 28 hl/ha and raised in 50% new oak. It has a well-defined bouquet with mainly black fruit intertwined with Earl Grey, sous-bois and cigar box scents, a much more classical style of Smith Haut-Lafitte compared to recent vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, a subtle tobacco note that percolates through the black fruit, more structure coming through towards the sapid finish with a dash of black pepper on the aftertaste. This will fill out in barrel and should become a refined and quite delicious Smith Haut-Lafitte that will repay time in bottle.
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
One of my favorite wines in the vintage, the 2025 Château Smith Haut Lafitte is based on 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, raised in 50% new oak, 45% old barrel, and 5% foudre. Beautiful darker fruits, scorched earth, smoky tobacco, chocolate, and graphite all define the aromatics, and on the palate, it's full-bodied, with a deep, concentrated mid-palate, beautiful tannins, and nicely integrated acidity. It brings beautiful ripeness as well as a balanced, textured, seamless style.
Deeply colored, all it takes is a single swirl to discover the red, black and blue fruits, smoke, cigar box, and tobacco. The palate kicks in with its vivacious, display of sweet, ripe fruits. The finish starts off strong and keeps on going long after the wine has left your glass. The picking dates in 2025 were paramount. They waited until after the late September rains to harvest the Cabernet, which added to the maturity of the fruits, while decreasing ABV levels, Picking took place from September 15 - September 30. The wine blends 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, and is aging in 50% new, French oak barrels. 13.5% ABV. pH 3.50. Yields were 30 hectoliters per hectare.
The 2025 Smith Haut Lafitte is a very classy, elegant wine. Lavender, spice and mint open first, followed by a burst of black/purplish fruit. Medium in body, with terrific freshness, the 2025 is impeccably done. The lighter style vis-à-vis most years is quite attractive.
About the producer
Ch. Smith Haut Lafitte is one of the leading lights of Pessac-Léognan today – all thanks to Daniel and Florence Cathiard, who took over the property in 1990 and have since transformed the estate, converting to biodynamics and crafting wines of increasing finesse.