1978 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte - Graves, Bordeaux
I fancied a mature claret this evening, so chose this pristine bottle. Deep strawberry red with a pink rim. Soft pencil sharpenings, dry tree bark and forest floor on the nose. The mouthfeel is medium bodied, savoury and almost dry, with a subtle dried red berry character going on. Another fully mature wine that some might say is in gentle decline. We drank the bottle easily over 45 mins and it did not seem to decline in that time.
I haven’t had much luck with older bottles of this estate. I thought this would have still been in their triangular bottling era.
Very nice. I’ve had good luck with this vintage.
So have I.
A pair of 1978 Pauillac Reds that were excellent:
The 1978 Chateau Pichon-Lalande was silky, elegant and fully mature but with beautiful, ripe fruit, framboise and cedar flavors. The nose and palate were both seductive – Gus (my father-in-law) and I commented on how the wine’s texture was just beyond description.
The 1978 Chateau Grand-Puy-Lacoste was spicier (in a cracked black pepper way) on the nose with loads of darker fruits and graphite on the palate with the ethereal texture that only age brings. The long, fruit-driven finish still showed a little tannin & acidity. This was the more ‘majestic’ wine of the two- more classic and textbook Pauillac.
We had the Pichon-Lalande on its own. We decanted the Grand Puy Lacoste and had it with dinner.
Interesting vintage, I absolutely adore the '78 Latour, much better than expected.
Interesting notes on other 1978’s.