2010 Smith-Haut-Lafitte
By Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte
2010 Smith-Haut-Lafitte from Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux
Nestled within the verdant expanse of Pessac-Leognan, the 2010 offering from Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte emerges as a phoenix from Bordeaux’s opulent viticultural history. Scions of a year marked by near-alchemical climatic conditions, this wine radiates the enchantment that only a banner Bordeaux vintage can imbue within its sable depths.
Awakening the Senses: The 2010 Vintage Odyssey
The tale of the 2010 marks an evolution from bud to bottle so serendipitous that the wine almost seems whispered into existence. A profusion of cool nights and sun-drenched days bestowed a bounty of grapes upon Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte; grapes rendered robust and complex by this interplay of temperature.
On unveiling, the 2010 crests with an aristocratic bouquet—cassis interlaced with smoked earth and teasing truffles. It's a harmony that plays out more beautifully each moment it breathes. On the palate, one finds a symphony of structured tannins and dried cherries dance alongside an ornate oak-spice frame—an exposition of his grand artistry at play in every glass.
An Investment in Liquid Luxury
Lauded by oenophiles and covetous collectors alike, this 2010 vintage bears the hallmark traits of an auspicious wine investment: pedigree, rarity, and a nexus of critical acclaim. It is without hesitation one might assert that cellar space reserved for the 2010 Smith-Haut-Lafitte is equivalent to anchoring one's portfolio in bedrock—solid, steadfast, and ever appreciating.
The preeminence of this vintage resides not merely in its current magnificence but also in its promise—a vintner’s vow that time shall unfurl its potential further. Each sip is not just a venture into vinous nirvana, but a glimpse at future gains both gustatory and fiduciary.
In closing, this remarkable vintage earns pride of place amidst discerning connoisseurs' collections and astute investors’ portfolios. The narrative of the 2010 Smith-Haut-Lafitte from Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte continues to unfold with each passing season—a luxuriant epistle etched in tannin and time.
Market price (GBP)
£1,310.00
12x75cl
Highest score
98
POP score
72.78
Scores and tasting notes
This is an extraordinary performance once again from the Cathiard family, the proprietors of Smith-Haut-Lafitte. They think the 2010 is even better than the 2009. (I disagree, but only slightly.) This wine has laser-like definition in its an remarkable nose of a subtle charcoal fire interwoven with spring flowers, creme de cassis, blueberry liqueur and spicy wood. Full-bodied, stunningly concentrated, long, rich and moderately tannic, this wine is set for an exceptionally long life of 30-40 years but can be drunk in 5-7.
Robert Parker Jr - Wine Advocate - Wine Journal
Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru in London. The 2010 Smith Haut-Lafitte has very fine delineation on the nose with intense black cherry, raspberry and slightly meaty aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy, edgy tannins. It has a lovely spicy, almost peppery seam running from start to finish. It is quite compact, much more reserved than I recall out of barrel, but the oak is seamlessly integrated and it is incredibly long. Tasted November 2012.
Neal Martin - Wine Advocate - Wine Journal