Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte
2022 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Blanc, Pessac-Leognan 6x75cl
"The 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is matured in 50% new oak for a planned 12 months, removed from barrel after 9 months with three months in vat after blending. It has a very perfumed nose with... yellow plums, jasmine, walnut and touches of fennel. The palate is medium-bodied with fine depth and acidity. Waxy in texture, with hazelnut and white pepper toward the saline, almost creamy finish."
94-96 Neal Martin, vinous.com, May 2023
£720 / Case£120 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2022 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Cru Classe, Pessac-Leognan 6x75cl
"The 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte was cropped at 29hL/ha between 5 and 30 September, undergoing half the extraction, aged in 60% new oak for a planned 18 months. It is fragrant and very pure on the nose:... beautiful blackberry, raspberry and liquorice. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, very elegant and focused, fine-boned with an exceptionally pure and caressing tobacco-tinged finish. This is going to grow to be a wonderful, delicious Smith Haut Lafitte. 14.5% alcohol."
95/97 Neal Martin, vinous.com, May 2023
£684 / Case£114 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2020 Le Petit Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Leognan 6x75cl
"Composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, aging in 30% new barriques, the 2020 Le Petit Haut Lafitte has a deep garnet-purple color, rolling out of the glass with alluring scents of... blackberry preserves, Black Forest cake and warm cassis, plus wafts of red roses and cinnamon toast with a hint of dried mint. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers plush tannins and soft acidity to support the generous, juicy black fruits, finishing on a lingering minty note." 91-93 pts., William Kelley, robertparker.com
£132 / Case£22 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Cru Classe, Pessac-Leognan 6x75cl
"Gorgeous aromas on the nose, so expressive with blackcurrant, plum, damson, strawberry and red cherry all abounding out of the glass. This has style and substance on the palate, the sour cherry,... blackcurrant and blueberry covered in the terroir markers of slate, graphite, pencil lead and liquorice which are the drivers on the palate, the fruit taking a backseat right now though there is cohesion with verticality and an undercurrent of freshness. The energy is there, almost latent, it’s under the surface, brimming, not yet ready to go but it will be there in time. This has refinement and you feel they haven't pushed too hard. It’s definitely got the markers of the vintage, the coolness of the year, showing the grapes and terroir even more clearly in the glass, especially the spiced Cabernet aspects. I love the style and the no frills effect. It’s got a super long length too with enough class on show you know it will age well." 94 pts., Georgina Hindle, decanter.com
£545 / Case£90.83 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur
2021 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Blanc, Pessac-Leognan 6x75cl
"Toasted oak, lanolin, honeyed caramel, lemon zest and red apple peel on both the nose and palate. This has an unctuosity, a richness to the texture giving beautiful honeyed lemon touches with... Semillon fatness and intensity from the Sauvignon. It’s sleeping a little right now, feels as if it’s calm and quiet, not yet ready to show the world what it’s about but you do get a precision and detail along the edges, a real sculpting of elements. I love the presentation, such a success for the vintage, excellent winemaking on show. It's the soft vibration you get as the flavours travel from start to finish that is so promising - a lot of life and immense enjoyment to come from this." 96 pts., Georgina Hindle, decanter.com
£635 / Case£105.83 / BottleDuty Status: In BondAvailability: En Primeur