2021 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge

The 2021 Smith Haut Lafitte is an engaging, dynamic wine. Gravel, menthol, licorice, mocha and spice are all beautifully delineated. A wine of energy and focus, the 2021 is absolutely enthralling—medium in body, refined and super-impressive.

- Antonio Galloni (12/2023)

This is extremely perfumed, with violets, lavender, forest fruit and beeswax. Medium- to full-bodied with creamy, round tannins. It’s delicious already with a lovely balance, showing dark fruit, meat and chocolate with a hint of smoke. Straight and driven, it has a long finish for the vintage. 63% cabernet sauvignon, 33% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. From organically grown grapes. Drinkable now, but even better in a year or two. (07/2024)

Another Graves that reminds me slightly of the 2014, the 2021 Château Smith Haut Lafitte has straight-up classic notes of cassis and blackberry fruits interwoven with smoked tobacco, smoky, gravelly earth, and spicy nuances. Medium-bodied, beautifully balanced, and incredibly elegant, with ultra-fine tannins, it's going to round into form with just 3-4 years of bottle age and will still be drinking beautifully at age 20. (04/2024)

A blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, the 2021 Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge is deep garnet-purple in color. After a little shaking, notes of fresh blackcurrants, black raspberries, and mulberries come bounding out of the glass, followed by suggestions of allspice, dried roses, and Sichuan pepper, with a fragrant waft of lavender. The medium-bodied palate shimmers with vibrant black and red berry layers, supported by fine-grained tannins and compelling tension, finishing long and minerally. Nicely done! (04/2024)

The 2021 Smith Haut Lafitte, a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot reveals a deep, complex bouquet of dark berries, spices, licorice, pencil lead and flowers intertwined with hints of menthol. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and seamless, it's suave and concentrated, with velvety, elegant tannins and a refined, penetrating finish.

- Yohan Castaing (02/2024)