Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan, Cru Classé de Graves, Bordeaux, 2013

Deep colour, slightly smoky cassis nose, nice density of fruit but 2013 greenness is there.

Starting with a slight primitive touch, the bouquet of the 2013 has notes of black cherry, blackcurrant and not-overly-ripe black fruit on aeration with an imposing oakiness and a hint of phenols. The palate has a Burgundian feel to it, juicy and savoury, with strong black cherry flavours and a perfectly balanced and very fruity texture. The finish is a little tighter than the mid-palate and remains long, with a distinct eucalyptus character and a relatively large tannic and woody mass. However, in the context of the vintage, this is a fine bottle.