In Bond Fine Wine. 2018 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge, Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France. Grand Cru Classé • Red Bordeaux in 12x75cl. Top critic score: 99/100 (JD). Drinking window: 2026–2056. Sold in bond by Albany Vintners, independent fine wine merchants.
Since Daniel and Florence Cathiard acquired Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte in 1990, the estate has become one of Bordeaux’s great modern success stories and a true trailblazer in organic and biodynamic viticulture. Surrounded by forests, hedgerows and beehives, the magnificent single-block vineyard sits like a green island in the heart of Pessac Leognan, with the Cathiards’ relentless pursuit of quality transforming Smith Haut Lafitte into one of the leading estates of the Graves. The vineyard’s deep Günz gravel soils are central to the château’s identity, storing and reflecting warmth to ensure perfect ripening while forcing the vines to root deeply into the clay and limestone beneath. This exceptional terroir gives the wines their unmistakable signature: whites of remarkable freshness and subtle smoky complexity, and reds that combine richness, elegance and silky depth with beautifully re…
James Molesworth (JMol) — 95–98/100 · Wine Spectator, 28/03/2019
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.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW (LPB) — 97–99/100 · Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com, 23/04/2019
Composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot aging in 60% new barriques, the very deep purple-black colored 2018 Smith Haut Lafitte is a little shy to begin. With coaxing, it very slowly unfurls to reveal a heart-stopping perfume of violets, red roses, kirsch, black cherries and redcurrant jelly, before giving way to a profound core of warm blackcurrants,…
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW (LPB) — 97/100 · Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com, 18/07/2021 · Drink 2026 - 2056
A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, aged in 60% new barriques, the very deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Smith Haut Lafitte bursts onto the scene with showy scents of creme de cassis, mocha, licorice and cedar chest, followed by suggestions of baked plums, smoked meats, tar and tobacco leaf. The medium to full-bodied palate brings sophistication to…