The 2011 Smith Haut Lafitte is a bit of a hidden gem—definitely one of the standouts from a vintage that doesn’t always get the love it deserves. It’s got a bold, dark profile with ripe red and black fruit, layered with tobacco, licorice, and a touch of smokiness. There’s a cool menthol freshness running through it that keeps it lively, along with elegant tannins that are silky but still have grip. Smooth, polished, and totally balanced, this one’s in a great spot now but still has some years of good drinking ahead.

Decanter | D 95
Published: Jun 8, 2021
Drink: 2022-2030

2011 is an underestimated vintage in Bordeaux and has produced some very singular wines. This 2011 Smith Haut Lafitte has elements of tobacco, spring flowers, black cherries and blackberries. Intense and elegant. This carries to a powerful, fresh burst of menthol and a juicy texture with elegant and velvety tannins. A very fine wine in the context of the vintage.
Closure: Cork
Body: Full
Oak: Oaked
Grapes: 8% Cabernet Franc 55% Cabernet Sauvignon 36% Merlot

The Wine Advocate | RP 94+
Published: Apr 30, 2014
Drink: 2014-2034

The grand vin, the 2011 Smith-Haut-Lafitte is another great successes (and that?s saying something after the remarkable duo of 2009 and 2010 as well as the brilliant 2008). This wine exhibits a dense purple color along with a big, sweet nose of creme de cassis, mulberries, licorice and subtle background oak. Full-bodied with silky tannins, nicely integrated acidity, wood and alcohol, a multilayered mouthfeel, and a finish that lasts 45 seconds, this brilliant wine should drink well for 15-20 years. 
One of the best run estates in Bordeaux, Smith-Haut-Lafitte's owners, the Cathiard family, has produced a beautiful second wine in 2011. 

Jamessuckling.com | JS 94
Published: Feb 18, 2014

A wine that has a beautiful depth of fruit, with currants, minerals and dried flowers on the nose and palate. it'sfull-bodied, with super-integrated tannins that last for minutes. This is muscular yet polished. Extremely well done for the vintage. Better in 2017.

Smith-haut-lafitte.com

The vintage 2011 can be analyzed dividing the year into two opposite weather phases that were determinant for the white grapes characteristics: a first period in advance compared to regular Bordeaux standards, the warm and dry weather induced an early vintage with harvest starting on the 18th of August; and a second period with a summer under quite low temperature average that allowed a slow maturation of the grapes
preserving their natural acidity.
These two phases were the key to the vintage for vine-growers and winemakers who took great care of the grapes in the first period and waited for perfect slow maturation in the second period.
Harvest started mid-September with the Merlots to end on the 30th of September with the Cabernets Francs.

Comments by Fabien Teitgen, Technical Director Château Smith Haut Lafitte Red 2011 offers a clear vibrant
intense dark red color. The first nose unveils very refreshing notes of ripe red fruits (cherry, raspberry) and beautiful spicy notes. Swirling reveals the complexity of the nose still led by the fruits and where notes
of dry herbs, liquorice, cloves, star anise, smoke, fireplace and a hint of caramel complete the aroma palette.
On the palate, the wine is well-balanced and displays good concentration, matter and maturity. The tannin structure is delicate but firm. The dynamism of this wine emerges from the velvet of the tannins, the ripeness of the fruit, the richness of the matter and brightness and tension of the acidity.
The red fruits drive the aromas on the palate with fresh notes of strawberry and red currant, followed by spicy expressions of liquorice, peper and vanilla and finally mineral notes of flint stone, fireplace and pencil lead. 

Yield: 34 hl/ha, before selection of the three wines: Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Les Hauts de Smith and Le Petit Haut Lafitte.
Blend: 55 % Cabernet sauvignon 36 % Merlot 8 % Cabernet franc 1% Petit verdot
Vinification of whole berries in small wooden vats at 28°C, extraction through pigeages.
Ageing 18 months on lees in French oak barrels (60 % new) made at the Château onsite cooperage, one racking only and then ageing adjusted for each wine.
Vine age: 38 years
Enjoy in 2016 - 2030.