Château Smith Haut Lafitte, 'Les Hauts de Smith' Rouge, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, 2018

Overview of the Wine
Thanks to its 55 hectares of superb gravelly vineyards, Smith Haut Lafitte is often referred to as the "archetypical Graves." The estate's history goes back to the Crusades, and a Scottish navigator, George Smith, who became the owner of the estate in the 18th century. He was followed by M. Duffour-Dubergier, Mayor of Bordeaux, and then Louis Eschenauer, a famous wine shipper.

In 1990, Daniel and Florence Cathiard also fell under the spell of this beautiful estate. Since then, they have restored the 16th century tower, renovated the 18th century manor house, built two underground cellars, went back to traditional vine growing methods without chemical herbicides and set up their own cooperage. The perfect elegance, excellent balance and fine structure of Smith Haut Lafitte's red and white wines are the ultimate reflection of the current owners' total commitment to quality.

Winemakers
Daniel and Florence Cathiard

Grape / Blend
60% Merlot & 40% Cabernet Sauvignon

Origin
Pessac-Leognan, Bordeaux, France

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Full-bodied and voluptuous, the palate is medium-bodied, with fine, coated tannins and a supple finish with a hint of graphite.

94 Points - James Suckling
Lots of sweet tobacco and bark to the plum and red currant aromas that follow through to a full body with round, creamy tannins that are powerful and rich. A well framed red. Lots of flavor, too. Mostly merlot. Try after 2025.

93 Points - Vinous
The 2018 Les Hauts de Smith is a powerhouse. I recall a much more open-knit wine from en primeur, but the bottled 2018 packs a serious punch. Inky dark fruit, chocolate, cloves, gravel and licorice give the 2018 a distinctly brooding feel. Les Hauts is conceived as a restaurant wine, but the 2018 is far from an easygoing example. There is plenty of depth, power and structure. A burst of dark red fruit laced with floral overtones punctuates the finish.

91 Points - Wine Spectator
A violet note infuses waves of blackberry and plum paste, while licorice, sweet bay leaf and mesquite fill in throughout. The nicely focused finish has a subtle tug of leather. Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2022 through 2032. 9,165 cases made.

91 Points - Decanter
I get some austerity here compared to Le Thil, and you feel the higher proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the savoury edge to the fruit. The focus overall is on balance and freshness, with blueberry and raspberry softened by gourmet edges of coffee, mocha and traces of fig. A yield of 21hl/ha (28hl/ha for the reds).

90 Points - Wine Advocate
The 2018 Les Hauts de Smith is a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Sauvignon, aged in 20% new barriques. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it sails out of the glass with expressive scents of Morello cherries, mulberries and blackberry pie, plus suggestions of underbrush and cinnamon toast. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of juicy red and black fruits, supported by plush tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing with a perfumed lift. Yum!

90 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
The 2018 Les Hauts De Smith is the younger vine, more Merlot-dominated wine from this great estate, and it's a 60/40 split of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. It has lots of classic Graves earthy minerality as well as plenty of ripe darker berry fruits, notes of green herbs, truffle, and cedar, a ripe, plush, rounded texture, and medium-bodied richness and length. This outstanding, complex Pessac is ideal for enjoying any time over the coming 7-8 years, if not upwards of a decade.

 Product size: 750ml