Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte - Pessac-Leognan 2018

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Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte Description

Château Smith Haut Lafitte / PESSAC-LÉOGNAN / CRU CLASSÉ DE GRAVES

Since its purchase by Florence and Daniel Cathiard in 1990, Smith Haut Lafitte has settled among the leading great growths of Bordeaux thanks to its elegant, complex, powerful and balanced red and white wines, faithful to their terroir. This internationally recognised level of quality is due to 25 years of “bio precision” work, a unique approach that combines the best of nature and the best of science.

Jeb Dunnuck: 99 Points

The 2018 Château Smith Haut Lafitte is based on 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, all of which was brought up in 60% new French oak. Its dense purple color is followed by an incredible perfume of blackcurrants, blueberries, camphor, scorched earth, chocolate, and tobacco. It's young and unevolved, yet the purity is off the charts, and it slowly gives up more spice and floral notes with time in the glass. Hitting the palate with full-bodied richness, it's an incredibly concentrated, powerful wine that has plenty of baby fat covering serious amounts of underlying structure and tannins. It has some up-front appeal from an educational standpoint, yet really needs a decade of bottle age and is going to keep for 30-40 years in cold cellars. It comes closest in my mind to a mix of the 2010 and 2016.-Jed Dunnuck

James Suckling: 98 Points

Wine Advocate: 97 Points

Wine Spectator: 95-98 Points

Ripe and lush, with delicious waves of plum, blackberry and black currant preserve flavors laced with subtle charcoal, tobacco and licorice notes. There's a long flow through the finish. Beautifully rendered, capturing the ripeness of the vintage in spades without being heady at all.