2022 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Leognan Rouge
The 2022 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Leognan Rouge is an outstanding Bordeaux wine that showcases elegance, complexity, and depth. This red wine blend displays a deep, ruby color that catches the eye. The nose is enchanting, offering a captivating bouquet of black fruits, such as blackberries and blackcurrants, accompanied by hints of tobacco, cedar, and spices. On the palate, it presents a harmonious balance of power and finesse, with velvety tannins and a vibrant acidity. Flavors of cassis, plum, dark chocolate, and subtle earthy undertones unfold gracefully, leading to a long, lingering finish. This wine represents the finesse and craftsmanship of Pessac-Leognan, promising a memorable tasting experience.
James Suckling
The polish, texture, complexity and patina are very impressive and fascinating. So spicy and interesting with so much going on. Medium body with wonderfully integrated tannins that are cut and nicely chiselled already. Lemon and violet. 64% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot.
Decanter
A real success of the vintage that manages to deliver a bold, structured, concentrated and powerful wine with real terroir signature. You get the impression it’s from a warm vintage, but I love the fact you have texture, volume and weight but keeping the finesse. Fragranced black fruit and purple floral notes with soft medicinal herbal touches on the nose. Sleek and supple, tannins make the impression with juicy blackcurrants, black cherries and strawberries. Excellent tannin definition, they’re filling, massy and round, almost plush but accented by acidity and freshness. Strong signature, you know you're in gravel with Cabernet. Juicy, clean, pure, but with bite and intensity. I love the dark savoury notes too, the cough syrup, liquorice, clove, tobacco and cigar box elements, complex and captivating. 4% press. 3.65pH 30% whole bunch Petit Verdot in the blend. Potential upsore in bottle. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 60% new oak barrels.
Vinous
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.