Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Le Petit Haut Lafitte 2016

I’ve been looking for a wine to knock my socks off the last few weeks and I found it. When I first poured this wine, I thought it was a little murky looking, very purplish with a lot of alcohol on the nose. But by the time I had taken a few sips, I started really enjoying this wine. It has a lot of fruit and chocolate and a nice almost chewy texture. Wines like this make me think of Raisinets! As I drank it, though, it seemed to get a little more silky in texture, and I liked the minty-tarragon aroma that I was starting to inhale. I drank this with a grilled Porterhouse and a casserole of potatoes baked in cream and cheese. It was NOT a bargain but I bought two bottles from Acquistipace’s in Covington (November, 2024). I highly recommend this one for a Friday night steak-and-potato splurge.

Jeff Leve says: Earthy, smoky, wet forest, licorice and dark plums, with good density, supple, textures and a tannic finish, with a bit of dryness in the end note. The second wine of Smith Haut Lafitte is produced for export from Les Hauts de Smith, as it is dominated by 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and paired with 40% Merlot. Earthy scents coupled with tobacco, coffee, black raspberry and plums reveal freshness in the fruit, softness in the tannins and a spicy, dark, red fruit finish.