1998 Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac Leognan

1998 Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac Leognan

There were two great appellations in Bordeaux for 1998 vintage – Right bank (both St Emilion and Pomerol), as well as Graves (Pessac Leognan). I have come across numerous wines from these two appellations that produced stunning content. I can give you a safe advice, skip most of the left bank, as even a non classified right bank wine can easily outperform a left bank second growth (I quote an example, Chateau Laroze 1998 easily outperformed Leoville Las Cases Saint Julien 1998, I’m sure not many people heard of Laroze). Smith Haut Lafitte has been on an ascending performance since the Carthiard family bought over the vineyard in 1990. I can safely assure you this 1998 vintage will be one of the best after 1990. The content was smooth, soft, feminine and even to the extend of being sexy. The red fruited content was extremely hedonistic, I can drink this wine forever without getting sick of it! I can see the trend of how Smith Haut Lafitte style keeps improving over time, and the epic vintage would be 2009. Hopefully we get to host a vertical tasting of this up and coming vineyard!

26 May 2016
Right bank vs Left bank!
I realized that many drinkers didn't know that 1998 Bordeaux right bank was a great vintage, thus I organized a tasting of some left and right bank Bordeaux wines, it proved to be an eye opener, right bank unknown labels overwhelmed left bank top labels.
But wait, don't let this Smith Haut Lafitte 98 fooled you into thinking it's mediocre! 1998 was a great graves vintage on top of right bank too!

Nose of alcohol, light fruits and wet soil. Palate was light, mellow, friendly, red fruits, pleasant. Despite the fact that it doesn't have much complexity, holding up extremely well in the glass.