2025 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge
"One of my favorite wines in the vintage...97-99 points." Jeb Dunnuck, Apr '26
"This is so good...Last vintage of Daniel Cathiard, and expect a label commemorating the remarkable impact he had on this brilliant estate....98 points." Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, Apr '26
Released this morning en primeur are 2025 Château Smith Haut Lafitte is offered at £411 per six bottles in bond.
With a barrel score of 97-99 points from Jeb Dunnuck, this new release of Smith Haut Lafitte is a fitting tribute to owner Daniel Cathiard, who passed away in January of this year, at 81.
We were fortunate to meet Cathiard in 2024, a former French Olympic skier who, along with his wife Florence, restored the château after buying it in 1990. He was in a jovial mood, having just hosted a visit from King Charles whilst on a trip to Bordeaux, presumably drawn by the estate's biodynamic approach to viticulture and emphasis on sustainability.
The 2025 will be bottled with a special label, to commemorate Cathiard's passing. Dunnuck describes the '25 as one of his favourite wines of the vintage, full of beauitfully ripe, dark, cassis fruit (as you would expect of a top Pessac wine in this day and age), but also with the distinct character of the growing season, expressed as a " balanced, textured, seamless style".
Offered en primeur. Landing spring 2028.
Magnums available with £25 ex-VAT bottling surcharge per six, please enquire for other formats.
All previous offers of 2025 Bordeaux can be found here.
| RED | 2025 | Château Smith Haut Lafitte | 75cl | £411 per case of 6 | Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2025 / / 75cl £411 per case of 6 |
IB | |||||
Tasting Notes"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. 2033 - 2045. 93-95 points" Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com------"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. Drink 2031-2055. 95-97 points." Neal Martin, vinous.com, May '26------"So aromatic and expressive, with pure currants and mint, plus some chocolate. Fennel too. Wow. Medium- to full-bodied with very deep fruit, fine, velvety tannins and a long, fine texture. The precision and depth are impressive. More fruit-driven than usual. It grows on the palate and is compact at the end. Very cabernet in the end. Almost like St.-Julien and Pauillac in nature. A blend of 68% cabernet sauvignon, 27% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. 97-98 points." James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, May '25------"This is so good, so much energy and depth, slate and wet stones holding interest and the palate expands, showing fragrant capsicum pepper, crushed mint, toasted spices, cumin, liquorice, cassis, cocoa bean, fully in the DNA of Smith Haut Lafitte. Harvest 1 to 30 September, and here they paused over that rain of September 23, as did Château Margaux - both estates were richly rewarded for this choice. 50% new oak for ageing. Last vintage of Daniel Cathiard, and expect a label commemorating the remarkable impact he had on this brilliant estate. 2035-2055. 98 points." Jane Anson, JaneAnson.com, Apr '26------"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. 97-99 points." Jeb Dunnuck, Apr '26 |
|||||||||||
YOU MUST BE 18 AND OVER TO PURCHASE AND CONSUME WINE AND ALCOHOL