Château Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge - Pessac-Léognan 2012

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2015

Jamessuckling.com

95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/15/2015

The finish is gorgeous here with a crunchy, fruity, hazelnut and earthy character. Dense yet balanced with a beautiful texture and length. Creamy tannins. Superb for the vintage. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot.

Wine Spectator

94 / 100

byJames Molesworththe2/10/2015

Layered fig, boysenberry and blackberry pâte de fruit notes are buttressed by ample, yet polished and integrated, ganache-coated tannins, while accents of black tea, ganache and tar course underneath. A really gorgeous display of fruit, showing terroir and cut on the finish. Best from 2018 through 2027. 10,000 cases made. –JM

Wine Spectator

94 / 100

the1/7/2015

The layered fig, boysenberry and blackberry pâte de fruit notes are buttressed by ample, yet polished and integrated, ganachecoated tannins, while accents of black tea, ganache and tar course underneath. A really gorgeous display of fruit, showing terroir and cut on the finish. Best from 2018 through 2027.—J.M.

Jancis Robinson

16 / 20

the12/11/2014

Healthy crimson. Fruit smells less that perfectly ripe. Clean and neat but a little simple. Grainy tannins on the finish. Not as opulent as most

vintages of this wine. Falls away a little. Well intentioned but… Drink 2019-2028

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

90-92 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe6/30/2013

(55% cabernet sauvignon, 40% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot; 60% new oak):  Purple-ruby.  Enticing aromas of blackcurrant, tobacco, violet and herbs.  Creamy-sweet and rather powerful on entry, then brighter in the mid-palate, with lively acidity energizing dark fruit, floral and tobacco flavors.  This is densely packed for a 2012, but also has a degree of finesse I haven't found in some past, bigger vintages of this wine.  Finishes with building, smooth tannins and terrific persistence.  A very strong vintage for this wine; this is yet another example of an estate that lowered the proportion of cabernet sauvignon in its 2012 blend (normally it's 60% to 65%).

timatkin.com

94 / 100

byTim Atkin MWthe6/30/2013

As it did in 2011, the increasingly impressive red from this top Pessac-Léognan property outperformed the more famous white. This is a serious yet very stylish red, combining perfume with medium weight fruit, smoky oak with nuanced, refined tannins. Long and complex with notes of violets, graphite and cassis. Drink: 2020-35

Le Point

14,5-15 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/16/2013

Fruits rouges, bouche ample, veloutée, fondue, un peu de sucrosité, tanins carrés en finale. O= 2017 G= 8 ans

Asian Palate

88 / 100

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe5/15/2013

Soft, succulent red with firm tannins and an array of spicy, dark berry fruit flavours. Well composed red that is balanced and charming in this challenging vintage. Good depth and fairly long length.

Wine Advocate

92-94 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/3/2013

Tasted from a barrel sample at en primeur. The 2012 is a blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot that is being raised in 60% new barrels. It has a intense bouquet, very lifted with the Merlot lending it a very floral aspect. Touches of crème de cassis develop with time. The palate is very well balanced with a smooth texture although you can feel the tannins exert their influence on the structured, much more Left Bank style finish that leaves a tertiary/tobacco aftertaste. This might be a long-term SHL. Tasted April 2013.

Wine Spectator

91-94 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/30/2013

Dark, with a ganache frame to the black currant, plum and blackberry notes. Tarry finish is rather shut and stolid today, but there’s serious stuffing here. Long charcoal echo, too. —J.M.

matthewjukes.com

17.5 / 20

byMatthew Jukesthe4/30/2013

Wine Advocate

92-94 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/26/2013

A brilliant success again, this blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot is a medium-bodied, impressively concentrated wine with copious quantities of red and black fruits. Licorice, roasted herbs and a touch of background oak are present in this slightly precocious wine, which should be accessible when released. It has the depth to evolve for 20 or more years. Talk about a severe selection – only 41% made it into the grand vin!

The Wine Cellar Insider

93-96 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/26/2013

From 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, the wine reached 13.6% alcohol with a pH of 3.7 and will be aged in 60% new French oak for between 16 to 18 months. Deep in color with a smoky nose complicated by licorice, coffee, dark cherry and earthy aromas, the wine is fat, lush and dense. Supple tannins and fresh, round dark fruits create a long, rich, opulent finish. The Grand Vin represents about 50% of the harvest. 93-96 Pts

My Bettane + Desseauve

17 / 20

the4/26/2013

Souple, rond, assez plein, tannin très fin, beaucoup de naturel et de charme pour le secteur et l’année mais dans un format de moindre intensité que dans les millésimes précédents.

Decanter.com

17,25 / 20

bySteven Spurrierthe4/22/2013

Elegantly concentrated cassis fruit with tobacco leaf overtones, habitual Smith seductively smooth and spicy, will show early and last well. 17.25/20pts ( 90+/100pts)
Drink: 2015 - 2028

Jancis Robinson

16,5 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/19/2013

Drink 2019-2030
Dark purple. Appetising fresh forest-floor nose. Very sweet palate entry but there is freshness here too. Just a little skinny and astringent on the finish but this is attractive modern red bordeaux without overkill of either oak or alcohol. Very competent.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

16,3-16,5 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/19/2013

Couleur de belle intensité. Nez fruité, pur et parfumé. Jolie entrée en bouche soyeuse puis le vin se développe parfumé avec du goût, une belle présence en milieu de bouche et une finale séveuse à la tannicité raffinée, aromatique et persistante. C’est très bon et nuancé.

Jamessuckling.com

94-95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/4/2013

The finish is gorgeous here with a crunchy, fruity, hazelnut and earthy character. Dense yet balanced with a beautiful texture and length. Creamy tannins. Superb for the vintage. 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot.