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Smith Haut Lafitte 2006

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pessac-Léognan
ColourRed
TypeStill
Grape VarietyCabernet Sauvignon/Merlot

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Label

Tasting Notes

A top-notch success, the dense ruby/purple-colored 2006 Smith-Haut-Lafitte offers aromas of smoky, juicy black currants, graphite, earth, truffles, and forest floor. Full-bodied with superb purity, noticeable but sweet tannins, this round, generous, long wine should drink nicely for 15-20+ years.One can't say enough about the work proprietors Daniel and Florence Cathiard have done at Smith-Haut-Lafitte since 1990. Drink 2009-2029.

93
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (181), February 2009

The 2006 Château Smith Haut-Lafitte has an intriguing bouquet with surprising mineral intensity coming through the pure blackberry and cassis fruit. The oak here is beautifully assimilated. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, a keen line of acidity, quite structured in the mouth, but that mineralité continues right to the finish that attenuates ever such a little. This is a thoroughbred Pessac-Léognan for the vintage. Drink 2017-2038.

93
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, May 2016

Shows good berry and coffee bean character. Full-bodied, with silky tannins and a medium finish of licorice and berry.

89/91
James Suckling, WineSpectator.com, March 2007

Bright purplish crimson. Lifted, slightly toasty nose backed up by rich, purple fruit flavours. Slightly fizzy on the finish. Well crafted. Pretty dry tannins but no excess of acidity and no green notes. Meaty and well balanced.

17
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2007

Full red-ruby. Expressive nose offers plum, black raspberry, tobacco, mocha, truffle, licorice and herbs. Suave, fine-grained and vibrant; generous and plush yet light on its feet. Finishes very long and classy, with sweet tannins, terrific energy and palate-coating persistence and perfume. Not as fat or full as the 2005, but just a step behind that wine.

92
Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, May 2009
Read more tasting notes...

The brilliant succession of red and white wines that has emerged from Smith-Haut-Lafitte since the early 1990s is attributable to the passion and hard work of perfectionist proprietors Florence and Daniel Cathiard. The beautiful 2006 exhibits aromas and flavors of earth, graphite, sweet cassis, cherries, smoke, and spice. Medium-bodied with admirable concentration, soft tannin, and impressive purity, texture, and length, this powerful wine is built on an elegant framework. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2025.

91/93
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (170), April 2007

An attractive nose of blackberry, sloes and damson with great definition and lift. The palate if full-bodied and has resemblances to Pape-Clément its extravagance. Spicy black fruit, just a touch of earthiness with soft, approachable tannins. It builds nicely in the mouth, very harmonious with a touch of espresso on the finish. Very fine. Great potential.

91/93
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, April 2007

Medium red-ruby. Subdued but lively aromas of black cherry, mocha, tobacco and nutty oak. The palate begins with a restrained sweetness to the flavors of currant, raspberry and hot rocks but gains expressiveness with aeration, with nicely integrated acidity contributing definition. Builds impressively on the back end, which features substantial broad, dusty tannins.

90/92
Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar, June 2008
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.