Freddy R. Troya

9.4

Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2023 – Pessac-Léognan, BDX France 🇫🇷

Overview
A beautifully balanced Pessac-Léognan red blend of Merlot 55%, Cabernet Sauvignon 42% , Petit Verdot 2% and Cabernet Franc 1% that delivers finesse, aromatic complexity, and immediate approachability while maintaining classical structure and aging potential. A textbook expression of modern-classic Pessac harmony.

Aromas & Flavors
Blackcurrant, blackberry, ripe plum, and dark cherry layered with cedar, graphite, cocoa nib, tobacco leaf, crushed gravel, and subtle floral lift. The fruit feels vibrant and pure with beautifully integrated oak and savory mineral nuance.

Mouthfeel
Medium-to-full bodied with finely polished tannins and excellent balance between freshness and density. Silky entry, energetic mid-palate, and a long, clean, gently savory finish. Elegant rather than massive, delivering precision and drinkability without sacrificing depth.

Food Pairings
Grilled ribeye, lamb chops, duck breast, mushroom-based dishes, herb-roasted poultry, aged hard cheeses, and classic French bistro fare. Equally rewarding with refined meals or elevated casual cooking.

🍷 Personal Pick
This is exactly the kind of Pessac that keeps you reaching for another glass, delicate yet layered, polished yet expressive, and dangerously easy to enjoy young. Immediate gratification today, with the structure and balance to reward cellaring down the road. A beautiful testament to classical Pessac elegance done right.

Did You Know?
Château Smith Haut Lafitte is known for its gravel-rich soils in Pessac-Léognan, which drive freshness, mineral tension, and aromatic lift in both red and white wines, helping maintain balance even in warmer vintages. — 14 days ago

"Odedi"

9.2

#AgedWineTuesday

Reddish in color with a wide reddish rim and medium intensity. Pretty color.

Strong nose of red fruits with earth, light wood, light Mediterranean spices, mushrooms, earth and herbs.

Light to medium in body with medium acidity.

Dry on the palate with raspberries, cherries, spices, light oak, licorice, chocolates, tobacco, herbs, spices, light green tea and earth.

Nice finish with soft tannins and tangy cranberries.

This is a delicious 15 year old Pinot Noir from Oregon. Nicely balanced and elegant.

Feels like a red Burgundy, which I loved. Complex and interesting. Tangy and spicy.

I've had a few vintages of this wine and it is very consistent. Drinking beautifully now, and will continue to do so in the next 10 years.

Wine Enthusiasts 91 points.

Easy drinking, and good by itself or with food.

Pinot Noir grapes were aged in (55% new) French oak barrels for 15 months.

13.1% alcohol by volume.

92 points.

$145. — a month ago

Ericsson

9.8

So much to say about this bottle. Its profile, its history, its growing rarity. And the fact that it was made at the very peak of The Patriarch’s era…

Then there is the occasion. A wine you cellar and protect, waiting patiently for the one moment worthy of all its allure.

A wine from a cooler Napa Valley, so evident in the glass it becomes mesmerizing. The freshness, the tension, the quiet authority; everything speaks of a time and place in Napa which no longer exists.

Yes, this is the kind of bottle that stays with you, not just as a wine, but as a memory. — 24 days ago

Brandon Boesch

9.2

Tasting great. Classic knights valley. Big fruit, oak, balanced. — 7 days ago

Jason Phillips

9.4

Complex and pleasant nose, not too fruity. Balanced tannins with hints of blackberry, plum, black cherry, spices, oak, and black pepper. Bold and smooth. Dry finish. — 22 days ago

Chad Powell

9.6

Highly rated for a reason. It’s quite good. — 24 days ago

Austin Blackwell

9.1

Reminds me of a good Santenay from Burgundy. — 16 days ago

with Angelina

Ericsson

9.0

Clean. Bright. Focused chard. — 20 days ago

Conrad Green

9.3

Very pretty. Faded with a touch of balsamic. Poised and pretty. Very light but complete. Pristine for a 50 year old cab — 18 days ago

with Naoko and Paul

Sipping Fine Wine

8.9

Deep Ruby with aromas of dark red fruits, spice and rustic floral notes. On the palate flavors of blackberry and cherry with pepper spice and cedar notes. Fine grainy tannins, lively acidity, medium finish ending with fruit, spice and mineral notes — a month ago