I love the great wines of Bordeaux, especially those that can age. A famed producer in the Pessac-Leognan appellation and located south of the city of Bordeaux in Martillac, Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is a house with serious history which dates back to the 14th century. It was at that time that the house of Verrier Du Boscq who planted vines on a gravelly plateau named Lafitte already in 1365. In 1720, it was bought by the Scotsman Georges Smith who added his name and also who built the manor house of the property. Today the modern facility focuses on biodiversity in the vineyards. Most of the vineyard production focuses on their red wines (67 hectares planted to red varietals compared to 11 hectares planted to white varietals).

White wines from Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte might be some of the finest of their kind for the price. I hav always bee impressed how both red and white wines from this house age. I recently had a chance to revisit the gorgeous 1988 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte (OB, 93) which is in a glorious spot right now, moving into tertiary tones. 1988 was a very good vintage in Bordeaux and this wine has stood the test of time marvelously. Learn more about these famed wines at https://www.smith-haut-lafitte.com/en/home/ and here are my tasting notes from the glorious 1988 Smith Haut Lafitte.

1988 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte- For years I have admired the cellaring potential of these wines and the 1988 Smith Haut Lafitte certainly is a brilliant showing from this very good vintage in Bordeaux. Right away this provides alluring red florals alongside graphite, tar, wild mushroom and lighter boysenberry notes aromatically. The palate is silky and refined with soft tannins that frame a pretty core of wild blackberry and huckleberry flavors alongside a brilliant sense of tension and damp earth tones. This is really singing right now, so don’t be afraid to grab this from your cellar. Drink 2022-2032- 93