97 Robert Parker
This vintage is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, matured in 65% new oak barrels. Medium to deep garnet-purple, the 2015 Smith Haut Lafitte has a totally dazzling nose of exotic spices—star anise, fenugreek and Sichuan pepper—over a core of chocolate-covered cherries, wild blueberries, plum preserves, violets and earthy wafts of truffles, moss, tilled black soil and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced and packing a lot of flavor into a relatively modest package, it fills the mouth with spice and herb-laced black and blue fruit layers, supported by very ripe, very finely grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length. This is already a show-stopping, heart-pounding beauty, but should also age incredibly!
97 Robert Parker
This vintage is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, matured in 65% new oak barrels. Medium to deep garnet-purple, the 2015 Smith Haut Lafitte has a totally dazzling nose of exotic spices—star anise, fenugreek and Sichuan pepper—over a core of chocolate-covered cherries, wild blueberries, plum preserves, violets and earthy wafts of truffles, moss, tilled black soil and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced and packing a lot of flavor into a relatively modest package, it fills the mouth with spice and herb-laced black and blue fruit layers, supported by very ripe, very finely grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with epic length. This is already a show-stopping, heart-pounding beauty, but should also age incredibly!
96 Wine Spectator
This pumps out some serious blackberry, boysenberry, raspberry and black currant fruit flavors, with the texture of compote and a racy edge thanks to a terrific bolt of graphite that runs throughout. Waves of anise, roasted apple wood and tobacco drive the finish, with the fruit keeping pace easily. Destined for a long life. Best from 2025 through 2045. 10,000 cases made.—J.M.
96 Wine Spectator
This pumps out some serious blackberry, boysenberry, raspberry and black currant fruit flavors, with the texture of compote and a racy edge thanks to a terrific bolt of graphite that runs throughout. Waves of anise, roasted apple wood and tobacco drive the finish, with the fruit keeping pace easily. Destined for a long life. Best from 2025 through 2045. 10,000 cases made.—J.M.
18 Rene Gabriel
63 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 33 % Merlot, 2 % Cabernet Franc, 2 % Petit Verdot. Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Deutlich röstiger Beginn, Kaffeenoten, schwarze Kirschen, dunkle Edelhölzer, die Beerenkonturen zeigen alle drei Farben auf; rot, blau und schwarz. Im Gaumen erst elegant beginnend, dann mit seinen verlangenden Tanninen zugreifend. Er wird viel Flaschenreife brauchen, um diese noch extrahiert wirkenden Gerbstoffnoten in sich zu integrieren. Das Potential ist zweifellos da. Mit diesem 2015er feiert man gleich zwei Jubiläen. 650 Jahre Smith-Haut-Lafitte (seit 1365) und 25 Jahre Cathiard-Besitz (seit 1990). 18/20 2025 – 2050 DREI MAL
18 Rene Gabriel
63 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 33 % Merlot, 2 % Cabernet Franc, 2 % Petit Verdot. Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Deutlich röstiger Beginn, Kaffeenoten, schwarze Kirschen, dunkle Edelhölzer, die Beerenkonturen zeigen alle drei Farben auf; rot, blau und schwarz. Im Gaumen erst elegant beginnend, dann mit seinen verlangenden Tanninen zugreifend. Er wird viel Flaschenreife brauchen, um diese noch extrahiert wirkenden Gerbstoffnoten in sich zu integrieren. Das Potential ist zweifellos da. Mit diesem 2015er feiert man gleich zwei Jubiläen. 650 Jahre Smith-Haut-Lafitte (seit 1365) und 25 Jahre Cathiard-Besitz (seit 1990). 18/20 2025 – 2050 DREI MAL
