2018 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte 'Le Petit Haut Lafitte' Pessac-Leognan

Winemaker Notes:  Le Petit Haut Lafitte is vinified and aged in our positiveenergy wine facilities where we recycle the carbon dioxide released by grape juice’s fermentation into baking soda. From vineyard to cellar, the entire winemaking goes into the exact same process as the Smith Haut Lafitte.

Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


Decanter - "Beautiful depth, density and complexity, and a lovely spice, along with softer touches of floral aromatics. Successfully holds juice and tension through the palate. A clear feeling of family relation to its bigger sibling, Smith Haut Lafitte. Drinking Window 2021 - 2034"


James Suckling - "Extremely fine with polished tannins and beautiful aromas and flavors of cabernet sauvignon, meaning currants and dark fruit. Medium to full body and refined tannins. All in finesse and structure through the mid-palate. 92-93pts"


Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - "Composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot matured in 20% new barriques, the 2018 Le Petit Haut Lafitte has a medium to deep garnet-purple color and expressive notions of crushed black plums, fresh blackberries and mulberries with wafts of dark chocolate, cinnamon stick and unsmoked cigars, plus a waft of bouquet garni. The medium to full-bodied palate is chock-full of juicy black fruits, framed by fine-grained tannins and well-knit freshness, finishing with an herbal lift."


Jeb Dunnuck - "Checking in as 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, the 2018 Le Petit Haut Lafitte is a terrific second wine with a complex, nuanced style in its darker currant fruits as well as notes of cedar wood, tobacco, and truffle. With medium-bodied richness, supple, elegant tannin's, and outstanding length, drink this charming, elegant, classic Graves over the coming decade."


Vinous - "The 2018 Le Petit Haut Lafitte is ripe and candied on the nose, offering a mixture of blue and blackberry fruit, raspberry coulis and violet scents, more seductive than the Le Petit Haut Lafitte. The palate is medium-bodied with succulent ripe tannins, a fine bead of acidity and just the right amount of spice toward the nicely proportioned finish, which lingers in the mouth. I prefer this to the Les Hauts de Smith. Drinking window: 2022 - 2032"