2021 Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte rouge - Grand Cru Classe - Pessac-Leognan AC

Decanter.com – 94 pts – GH: *Gorgeous aromas on the nose, so expressive with blackcurrant, plum, damson, strawberry and red cherry all abounding out of the glass. This has style and substance on the palate, the sour cherry, blackcurrant and blueberry covered in the terroir markers of slate, graphite, pencil lead and liquorice which are the drivers on the palate, the fruit taking a backseat right now though there is cohesion with verticality and an undercurrent of freshness. The energy is there, almost latent, it’s under the surface, brimming, not yet ready to go but it will be there in time. This has refinement and you feel they haven't pushed too hard. It’s definitely got the markers of the vintage, the coolness of the year, showing the grapes and terroir even more clearly in the glass, especially the spiced Cabernet aspects. I love the style and the no frills effect. It’s got a super long length too with enough class on show you know it will age well.* - 01/2022

Falstaff Magazin – 94 pts – PM: *Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Ockerrandaufhellung. Zart nach Lakritze und Brombeerkonfitüre, feine Edelholzwürze, ein Hauch von Nougat. Mittlere Komplexität, feine Kirschfrucht, gute Frische, gut integrierte, feine Tannine, salzig-zitronig im Abgang, bald zugänglich, verfügt über Reifepotenzial.* - 05/2022

Vinum Magazin – 17/20 pts: *Recht ausbaugeprägt; voller Ansatz, dichter Bau; knackiges, robustes Tannin, gute Länge auf Noten sehr reifer Beeren; extraktreich, sogar recht feurig für das Jahr, viel Eiche auch in dieser Phase.*

WeinWisser – 18,5/20pts – GL, TW: *63 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 33 % Merlot, 3 % Cabernet Franc, 1 % Petit Verdot, 22 hl/ha. Verführerisches Bouquet, edle Cassiswürze, frischer Schattenmorellensaft und betörende Veilchen. Im zweiten Ansatz Alpenheidelbeere, Lakritze und heller Tabak. Am energiegeladenen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, stützender Rasse, reifem engmaschigem Tanningerüst und trainiertem Körper. Im konzentrierten langanhaltenden Finale blaubeerige Konturen, Earl-Grey-Note und fein körnige Adstringenz, kann noch zulegen.* – 04/2022

JancisRobinson.com – 16,5+/20pts – JR: *63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. Cask sample. Dark crimson. Some ripe red fruit on the nose. Polished tannins and there is energy here. This sample seems to have a more convincing core than yesterday’s sample tasted at the château. Good level of interest and detail here. Even if the level of acidity is higher than usual and the tannins obviously took some taming. Sweeter than some.* - 04/2022

Vinous.com – (95-97) pts – AG: *The 2021 Smith Haut Lafitte is fabulous. Rich and explosive in the glass, the 2021 possesses tremendous intensity, much of that the result of low yields of just 20-22 hectoliters per hectare, about half of what is typical here. The tannins are a bit firm today, but there appears to be more than enough fruit behind all of that structure. Vivid aromatics further suggest all the 2021 needs is time. I can't wait to see how it ages.* - 04/2022

Vinous.com – (92-94) pts – NM: *The 2021 Smith Haut Lafitte was picked from September 22 to October 14, and matured in 60% new oak. It has an open, expressive bouquet of blackberry, freshly rolled tobacco and subtle crushed rock aromas, well-defined though obviously not as flamboyant as the previous three vintages. The palate is medium-bodied, fresh and mineral-driven, with fine tannins, a touch of chalkiness, and hints of seaweed on the estuarine finish, even though it lies a few kilometers from the Gironde! Classic in style, and maybe a little austere for some on the finish, yet it feels long in the mouth. Fabien Teitgen and his team have overseen a superb Smith Haut-Lafitte, even though I suspect that it will not reach the heights of the 2010 or the 2016.* - 04/2022

Thewinecellarinsider.com – (94-96) pts – JL: *Dark in color, the wine opens with blackberry, boysenberry, flowers, cocoa, licorice, chocolate and black cherry. The wine is soft, polished, elegant and refined, with silky tannins, energy and purity to the fruit, which you can taste in the mid-palate. The finish delivers a precise note of chocolate-covered mint and cherries with a mineral, chalky endnote. Blending 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, 13.5% ABV pH of 3.65. The harvest took place September 22 through October 14. Yields were low at only 22 hectoliters per hectare. Drink from 2027-2047.* - 05/2022