2018 Smith Haut Lafitte
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Tasting notes
Highlighting the consistency of this estate, the 2018 once again delivers confidence, glamour and juicy black fruits, touches of grilled sandalwood, incense, cigar box, cocoa bean, one of the best 2018s you can find - it manages to combine the opulence of the vintage with the most delicious salt-scrape of pumice stone tannins, totally delicious, juicy, drawn out, well judged, reserved exactly where you want it to be. Very good quality. 80% new oak.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
Some spicy oak on the nose. Full and beefy but not very subtle. Not yet very evolved. The ingredients are there but need time. A bit less dramatic than usual. (JR)
90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris, 5% Sémillon. Intriguing, smoky, rich but also refreshing. Sui generis . Very successful. Just a touch of oak. Just what you want from a top-quality Sauvignon. Clean as a whistle and beautifully balanced. Lanolin and smoke are the dominant characteristics – as well as hugely impressive persistence. (JR)
Smith Haut-Lafitte and Cos d'Estournel are the only two wines here that I have chosen to highlight in the top 100 for both their red and white bottles. For SHL in particular, it seemed crazy to suggest wines that sum up the best of the vintage without drawing your attention to both colours. This one, with its unfussy yet luxurious feel, is really one to savour. The fruits are autumnal and enticing, textured raspberry and black cherry, with liqourice, slate, olive tapenade, smoked earth and cocoa bean sat against fresh acidities that add tension and length. 60% new oak. Harvest 18 September to 10 October. Last year of organic conversion, certified 2019.
About the producer
Ch. Smith Haut Lafitte is one of the leading lights of Pessac-Léognan today – all thanks to Daniel and Florence Cathiard, who took over the property in 1990 and have since transformed the estate, converting to biodynamics and crafting wines of increasing finesse.