TN: 1996 Chateau Smith Haut Lafite

[tjaehnigen]

3/29/03

Cost = ??? TJ Rating = 88

I am finally getting around to post TNs on this. Had this on 3/29 at the VC Rocks at Equinox DC offline.

This wine had what I like to call a light dark color (using the 9 gradations of light light, medium light, dark light, etc all the way to dark dark). It seemed a bit woodsy to me at first, but it then evoked what I am calling '...huge chunks of rock...', but not gravel. I was imagining something more along the lines of the vines roots fighting their way through boulders. It got better and better with time in the glass with nicely put together medium dark fruits, most notably blackberry. Well balanced with a good finish.