Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge - Pessac-Léognan 2022

Alexandre Ma

96

byAlexandre Mathe3/10/2025

Few white wines achieve the delicate dance between flair and refinement quite as SHL does. It stands out like a talented superstar, whose presence you can detect at a glance, yet engages with a remarkable ease and grace. Encased within its freshness is an endless vitality, akin to a piece of historical Hetian jade, narrating the intricacies of the vintage of 2022. Its slightly bitter aftertaste extends the sweet return for miles, leaving a hint of sweetness upon reflection. The ability to craft such an outstanding white wine in the arid and hot conditions of 2022 is remarkable, and well-worth the attention of Bordeaux white wine enthusiasts.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

98

byJane Ansonthe3/7/2025

This shows reserve on the nose, pared-back elegance, layers of black fruits, violets, peony, spice, liquorice, cocoa bean, mint leaf, lemongrass, beautifully textured and supple tannins. Builds and raises the level of intensity through the palate, creamy black cherry, damson and peach pit also, great tension, chalk, energy, tension, conctration and freshness as the aromatics expand, 60% new oak for ageing, 10% whole bunches fermentation. Sure to age. Fabien Teitgen technical director, Florence and Daniel Cathiard owners.

Decanter.com

100

byGeorgina Hindlethe3/7/2025

Deep and evocative, this bursts with blackcurrants, milk chocolate and floral perfume. Instantly captivating, the palate is silky yet structured, with tannins seamlessly supporting vibrant red and black berries. Broad and powerful, yet it glides, showcasing Cabernet’s structure, Merlot’s generosity and cool spiced fruit. A mineral core adds complexity, with...

Wine Advocate

96

byYohan Castaingthe3/6/2025

With a somber, slightly introverted character characterized by notes of licorice, gentian, spices and dark wild berries, the 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte possesses a medium to full-bodied, concentrated and dense palate with a fleshy core of fruit and a generously extracted structure with an assertive tannic frame that requires time to mellow. Concluding with a long, dense and gentian-inflected finish, it needs time to digest its élevage and should gain harmony and balance with some time in the cellar.

The Wine Cellar Insider

98

byJeff Levethe3/4/2025

Smith Haut Lafitte, Château

Jeb DUNNUCK

100

byJeb Dunnuckthe2/28/2025

Looking at the Grand Vin, the 2022 Château Smith Haut Lafitte checks in as a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that was raised in 60% new French oak. Reminding me of a more elegant version of the 2010, it has a dense purple hue to go with a rich, powerful, full-bodied, sensationally complex nose of cassis and darker berries interwoven with woodsmoke, scorched earth, chocolate, and chalky minerality. Concentrated, deep, and layered on the palate with ripe, velvety tannins, it's a sensational, absolutely heavenly effort that will keep for 40-50 years. Along with the 2009, 2010, and 2020, this is one of the greatest wines to ever come from this address. Don't miss it.

Yvesbeck.wine

98

byYves Beckthe2/25/2025

64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot Le bouquet de Smith Haut Lafite se révèle avec subtilité. Il commence par afficher des nuances de réglisse, une touche de café frais puis des notes de myrtilles. Avec un peu d'aération, il gagne en pluralité et en profondeur avec, entre autres, des nuances de garrigues et de menthe. En bouche, le vin se profile avec assurance, conscient de ses aptitudes dédiées à la puissance, mais également au charme et à la fraîcheur. Les tannins, encore quelque peu serrés, mais bien intégrés, offrent une assise fiable et garante d'une longue garde. Compact et salivant, Smith Haut Lafite se distingue par son harmonie, par cette aptitude à créer le lien entre vigueur, finesse et sapidité. Sa finale appuie bien l'expression aromatique, de manière tonique et persistante. 2028-2054 98/100

Vinous

96

byNeal Martinthe2/12/2025

The 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte, bottled in June 2024, includes 15% of the stems, though winemaker Fabien Teitgen emphasizes that he does not want their effect to be palpable in the blend. Its fragrant bouquet blends red and black fruit with hints of anise and Italian herbs, coming across quite complex and a little more flamboyant than some of its Pessac peers. The medium-bodied palate features plush tannins and very pure black fruit interlaced with hints of graphite and black pepper. Boasting gentle grip and a great sense of harmony, this is a wonderful Smith Haut Lafitte that will evolve in bottle over many years.

Jamessuckling.com

98

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2025

The vivid fruit character here is so impressive for this hot and dry vintage. It's medium- to full-bodied, showing gorgeous crushed grapes and dark berries. With density, clarity and beauty, it really speaks of great cabernet sauvignon. The tannins are integrated and go long, taking you deep and complete on the palate. 64% cabernet sauvignon, 32% merlot, 3% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. Seems almost drinkable now but needs at least five years of bottle age. Drink after 2029.

Vinous

97

byAntonio Gallonithe1/28/2025

The 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte is silky, elegant and nuanced. It's all there. A wine of precision and class, the 2022 is so impressive. Refined, supple tannins wrap around a core of blue/purplish fruit, lavender, espresso and mocha. I find the 2022 a bit buttoned up today, but that is probably a very good thing for its long-term prospects. I look forward to seeing it age.

Wine Spectator

95

byJames Molesworththe1/22/2025

Delivering a warm gush of cassis, plum puree and cherry preserves, this manages to capture a polished feel, with sweet tobacco, black licorice and violet notes filling in liberally, all backed by an echo of espresso crema on the lengthy and opulent finish. Almost approachable for its mouthfeel, but cellaring will be rewarded. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2026 through 2042. 8,000 cases made, 2,400 cases imported.

Wine Maniacs

93-94

byLin Liuthe5/30/2023

Decanter.com

97

byGeorgina Hindlethe5/25/2023

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

95-97

byNeal Martinthe5/17/2023

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. 14.5% alcohol.

The Vintage Journal

95-96

byAndrew Caillard MWthe5/17/2023

Deep crimson. Classical blackcurrant cedar aromas with mocha/ hint marzipan notes. Beautifully concentrated wine with dense dark berry fruits, bitter sweet textures, lovely volume, richness and mineral length. All the elements in balance. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot 30-60% new oak)

matthewjukes.com

19

byMatthew Jukesthe5/15/2023

Alexandre Ma

97-99

byAlexandre Mathe5/15/2023

Having tasted numerous vintages of SHL, never before have I encountered such an all-encompassing vintage, where every drop seems saturated with the world's most exquisite fragrances. Ordinarily, I'm immediately captivated by SHL's impressive allure, yet in 2022, my first impression is of a tantalizing purple lily, epitomizing the image of the "elegance born from fiery trials". The tannins, soft and delicate, coat the mellow berries, subtly revealing whispers of graphite, pine cone, and licorice. Fabien's winemaking experience in California is unmistakably beneficial to SHL 2022, instilling in me an unwavering confidence for the future of Bordeaux amidst rising temperatures.

Yvesbeck.wine

96-97

byYves Beckthe5/10/2023

Le bouquet de SHL 2022 annonce du charme, de la fraîcheur et de l'harmonie ! Ainsi il révèle des d'invitantes notes de baies noires et d'épices douces, puis une rafraîchissante touche de menthe et réglisse. Friand en attaque, le vin est doté de tannins aux grains fins qui offrent non seulement de l'ampleur mais qui sont de paire avec la tension de la structure acide. C'est en fin de bouche que le vin a un évident focus sur la puissance avec une touche énergisante qui pousse littéralement la finale et l'aromatique lui est attachée. De fins amers et une légère salinité dynamisent la fin de bouche et assurent non seulement la vigueur et la fraîcheur, mais également l'avenir.

Bettane & Desseauve

97

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/10/2023

Puissant tout en étant raffiné dans ses arômes (thé vert, tabac blond, fruits noirs très mûrs), bouche voluptueuse avec beaucoup de densité, de l’énergie, une longue finale vibrante et salivante. Assez colossal et monumental tout en restant racé et parfumé. Un smith séducteur et plein de personnalité.

Jeb DUNNUCK

96-98

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/10/2023

Moving to the Grand Vin, the 2022 Château Smith Haut Lafitte checks in as 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot. This ripe, powerful, concentrated wine reminds me of the 2010 with its structure, concentrated mid-palate, and just sheer density and regal, full-bodied style on the palate. Despite its size, it stays balanced, has a beautiful perfume of sweet black fruits, graphite, scorched earth, and spring flowers, building tannins, and a great, great finish.

Vinous

95-97

byAntonio Gallonithe5/9/2023

The 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte is a regal, elegant wine. Succulent inky fruit, licorice, spice, lavender and mocha open in a gracious, sublime Grand Vin. Here, too, the wine’s persistence and energy are notable. The Cabernet is especially evident this year, in both the wine’s flavor profile and overall structural feel. In many vintages, the Grand Vin is more immediate and alluring. The 2022 is quite reticent. Drinking window : 2030-2042

The Wine Cellar Insider

98-100

byJeff Levethe5/5/2023

Inky dark in color, the wine requests a bit of effort before jumping into its nose of spice, cigar wrapper, blackberries, black currants, flowers, wet earth, and smoke. On your palate, the purity in the fruit, elegance, and lift is there. But what stands out is the width in your mouth as the wine caresses every part of your palate with its silky textures, and richness. The finish seals the deal as the wine has real staying power, staying with you for over 50 seconds! Harvesting took place from September 5 - September 30. Yields were low at 28 hectoliters per hectare. The wine is a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, and is aging in 60% New, French oak barrels for 18 months. 14.5% ABV. pH 3.55. Is this the best vintage of Smith Haut Lafitte ever produced? Maybe. Let's revisit when the wine is in the bottle. Drink from 2027-2055.

Wine Advocate

94-95

byYohan Castaingthe4/28/2023

The 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte opens in the glass with attractive aromas of cassis, spices, tobacco, graphite and licorice, followed by a medium to full-bodied palate that is deep and layered, with good depth and powdery structuring tannins that assert themselves on the finish. This blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot will require some patience, given its somewhat extracted style.

Jamessuckling.com

97-98

byJames Sucklingthe4/19/2023

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.