Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge

The nose is highly expressive with beautiful notes of red and black fruits, a lovely blend of Morello cherry, blueberry, and blackcurrant. Upon agitation, a spicy dimension becomes predominant with hints of cloves, licorice, and eucalyptus, followed by darker and smoky notes with touches of graphite and pencil lead. A superb aromatic complexity very typical of the great soils of Graves. The attack on the palate is straightforward and direct, with a beautiful density and superb texture. The wine is full-bodied, dense with a fine balance of freshness. The tannic structure is present, ripe, with a very beautiful texture and a velvety touch. The palate aromatics reflect those of the nose with a very nice complexity of red fruits, black fruits, spices, as well as nuances of tobacco leaves and eucalyptus. And still those graphite notes, very characteristic of our Smith Haut Lafitte. A very fine vintage combining power and elegance in a beautiful refined tannic structure.

Wine Advocate 96: The 2019 Smith Haut Lafitte has turned out very well indeed, unwinding in the glass with a complex bouquet of dark berries, cassis, forest floor, pencil shavings, licorice and spices. Full-bodied, broad and velvety, it's layered and elegantly muscular, underpinned by rich structuring tannins and lively acids, and it concludes with a long, expansive finish. This is another estate where the viticultural and stylistic evolutions of the last decade have delivered a beautifully balanced, harmonious 2019.

James Suckling 99: Intense blackberry and graphite character coming out of the glass, together with dried violets, ink and some asphalt. Full-bodied with wonderfully integrated tannins that spread across the palate and then draw you deep into the wine. Lead-pencil and blackcurrant aftertaste. Tightly wound with a cashmere-like texture. A whole and thought-provoking wine. Try after 2028 and beyond.

Vinous 96-98: The 2019 Smith Haut-Lafitte was cropped at 36hl/ha, undergoing manual pigeage and maturation in 60% new barrels for a planned 18 months. It has an intense, very pure bouquet with blackberry, briary and cherry compote and a hint of black olive tapenade in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins that frame the pure, mineral-infused black fruit. Undercurrents of graphite and black olive surface towards the complex finish that I feel is less opulent but maybe more sophisticated than recent vintages of this top performer. Very elegant and refined, this is an outstanding success for winemaker Fabien Teitgen and his team. Tasted twice including samples direct from the château.

Wine Enthusiast 96: A wine that has great richness with spice, one of a line of great whites from this estate. Tropical fruits and generosity give a ripe, full-bodied wine, that is immediately attractive. The wine is going to age further, drink from 2024. Organic and biodynamic.

James Suckling 97-98: So aromatic and expressive, with pure currants and mint, plus some chocolate. Fennel too. Wow. Medium- to full-bodied with very deep fruit, fine, velvety tannins and a long, fine texture. The precision and depth are impressive. More fruit-driven than usual. It grows on the palate and is compact at the end. Very cabernet in the end. Almost like St.-Julien and Pauillac in nature. A blend of 68% cabernet sauvignon, 27% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. - James Suckling

Vinous 95-97: The 2025 Smith Haut Lafitte was picked between September 3 and 30 at 28 hl/ha and raised in 50% new oak. It has a well-defined bouquet with mainly black fruit intertwined with Earl Grey, sous-bois and cigar box scents, a much more classical style of Smith Haut-Lafitte compared to recent vintages. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, a subtle tobacco note that percolates through the black fruit, more structure coming through towards the sapid finish with a dash of black pepper on the aftertaste. This will fill out in barrel and should become a refined and quite delicious Smith Haut-Lafitte that will repay time in bottle. - Neal Martin