2010 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Cru Classe, Pessac-Leognan 1x750ml

Robert Parker 95

Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. Upon initial pouring, the Smith Haut Lafitte 2010 appears a little unsettled, perhaps just getting used to its surroundings. However, it rapidly gains harmony and clarity, developing seductive scents of luscious raspberry and wild strawberry, hints of incense and dried violets, the new oak still a little conspicuous and needing further bottle age to fully integrated. The palate is rounded and pleasurable from the start: fine acidity, gentle tannins, quite caressing on the finish. This is a consummate Smith Haut-Lafitte that will repay long-term ageing. Tasted January 2014. [Neal Martin, 01/01/2014]

Vinous 94+

Full ruby-red. Very ripe yet precise nose offers blueberry, black raspberry, violet, spices and sexy dried herbs; still a bit youthfully medicinal but already showing a lot of personality. Rich, pliant and hugely deep, with near-chocolatey ripeness to the highly concentrated dark berry, tobacco and spice flavors. This wonderfully broad, seamless, layered wine dusts the palate with ripe tannins and leaves the mouth perfumed. Built for a long life in bottle but balanced from day one: it’s more bound-up today than the silkier and more voluptuous 2009 but I would not be surprised if this one eventually surpassed its younger sibling. [Stephen Tanzer, 01/07/2013]