2004 Les Haut De Smith

2^nd wine of Smith-Haut Lafite - $20 (Wine Library)

Right from the get go this was Bordeaux tried and true.

Color: Garnet dark ruby red. Though a tad cloudy, as sediment had not settled in the wine and it threw no sediment at the end of the bottle

Nose: Smokey, toasty oak, cherry, crème de cassis, and black berry and floral nuances.

Palate: Superb flavors of cherry, milk chocolate and crème de cassis integrate well with the sweet tannins. A touch of minerality on the finish. Great acidity too!

Background: Smith-Haut Lafite is a house reborn in the last 10 years by an American family that purchased the Chateaux with aims to revitalize and bolster quality. They have done so and their investment has paid dividends. Besides La Mission and Haut Brion, this is probably the 3^rd best propeprty making wine in the past 5 vintages. The scores are there, the quality is there to back up the scores. Price? One of the best QPR (quality-to-price ratios) in Bordeaux. The 1^st house red in 2005 scored a 95WA and 93WS. The Pessac-Leognan region received high marks from both critics for 2005. This has to be one of the best 2^nd label wines from a main Chateaux out there for the price. Alas the store I purchased this from is long sold out. I will have to check wit the importer to see when the 2005 will hit our shores.

Cheers!!!