Château Smith Haut Lafitte Red - Pessac-Léognan 2018 4df5d4d9d819b397555d03cedf085f48

Vinous

94-96 / 100

byNeal Martinthe11/15/2019

The 2018 Smith Haut Lafitte was picked from 18 September until 8 October. There was no saignée according to winemaker Fabien Teitgen and he told me that this year they used no stems. I have to say, I really adore this nose: blackberry, bilberry, crushed stone and iris petals, very well defined and the new oak playing a supporting role. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, taut and linear with black fruit laced with iodine and black olive. There is plenty of freshness here, very focused with a crisp and lively finish. This is a superb Smith Haut Lafitte that should age with real style.

WeinWisser

19 / 20

the5/7/2019

Vinous

90-93 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe5/1/2019

The 2018 Smith Haut Lafitte is powerful, dense and also tightly wound. There is good depth to the red cherry and plum fruit, but the 2018 comes across as not fully put together. It will be interesting to see what élevage does, but today, the Grand Vin, while good, is not especially thrilling. The tannins need time to soften, and the wine just needs time to find its center. I found the 2018 very challenging to taste on two separate occasions.

Jeb DUNNUCK

97-100 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/1/2019

Checking in as 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot brought up in 60% new French oak, the 2018 Château Smith Haut Lafitte reveals a saturated purple color as well as rock star notes of crème de cassis, blueberries, graphite, crushed rocks, and spice. Deep, profoundly concentrated, beautifully seamless and textured on the palate, it reminds me of the 2009 with its opulent, powerful style. It's a brilliant wine from this terrific estate and up with the top wines in the vintage. Hats off to director Fabien Teitgen who continues to make an elegant yet powerful, uncompromising style of wine.

Yvesbeck.wine

96-97 / 100

byYves Beckthe5/1/2019

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
Pourpre violacé. Ce bouquet se révèle très lentement. Il laisse d’abord apparaître de timides notes florales ainsi qu’épicées. Il a besoin d’air pour gagner en complexité et laisse apparaître des notes d’anis, d’iris, de baies noires, de réglisse ainsi qu’une élégante touche d’élevage. La mise en bouche est friande, charmante. Le vin a du corps, de l’ampleur et présente des tannins porteurs, puissants qui assurent bien les arrières. Ils soulignent leur aptitude à se révéler d’une manière crescendo et atteignent leur maximum à la fin du palais. Je retrouve de la tension et une agréable fraîcheur en finale. Un Smith de caractère qui a de quoi aller loin dans le temps. 2025-2048

Vinifera

95 /

byJacques Perrinthe5/1/2019

Nez superbe, nuances de fruits noirs avec des notes florales. Grande richesse de constitution avec une texture ample. Développement crescendo sur une assise tannique parfaitement intégrée. Finale d'un grand panache. 

La Revue du Vin de France

18-19 / 20

the4/24/2019

The Wine Cellar Insider

97-99 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/23/2019

Opaque in color, just one look tells you this is going to exciting to taste. Licorice, smoke, barbecue, burning campfire embers and black fruits might be the first thing you notic but it is the palate, coated by the layers of sensuous, pure, ripe, velvet textured fruit that really rocks. The wine is creamy, juicy and even with all that fruit -- fresh! The finish must last at least 60 seconds as it moves back and forth from red fruit to black fruit several times. There is serious competition for the best vintage ever from Smith Haut Lafitte, as there have been so many great vintages here but clearly 2018 is in contention for the top title. The wine was made from a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, reaching 14.25% alcohol with a pH of 3.7. The harvest took place August 24-September 17, which is quite early for Smith Haut Lafitte. 2018 is a low yield vintage here at only 21 hectoliters per hectare due to hail and issues with mildew.

Wine Advocate

97-99 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/23/2019

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, blackberry preserves, molten licorice and cinnamon stick with nuances of dried mint, orange blossoms (yes!) and cloves. Full-bodied, the fruit does veritable pirouettes on your palate, both elegant and powerful in its expression, coating the mouth with densely packed red and black fruits while revealing tons of mineral, floral and savory sparks, framed by exquisitely fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing very long.

Decanter.com

98 / 100

byJane Ansonthe4/17/2019

There is a luxurious, languorous feel right from the very first nose here, which continues step for step all the way through the palate. It's a highly impressive wine with an amazing texture - something that is starting to mark Smith Haut Lafitte out every year. Notes of dark chocolate, black cherry and liquorice stretch out through the rich palate, displaying tension and texture. 

2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Harvested 18 September to 10 October. 60% new oak.

Wine Enthusiast

95-97 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/17/2019

This is a finely structured, impressive wine that displays bold tannins and a streak of freshness. This shows great balance between its bold structure and rich fruit. Its tannins are the sign of its aging potential.

Jamessuckling.com

98-99 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/12/2019

This is incredibly complex with hazelnut, currant, berry and dried-flower character. The impression of a vat of fermenting cabernet. Full body, round and juicy tannins and a long, soft and silky finish. Shows the essence of the fruit here. Fascinating. Layered and complex.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

95 / 100

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/8/2019

Wine Spectator

95-98 / 100

byJames Molesworththe3/28/2019

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.