Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte rouge 2018

- 99 Punkte JEB DUNNUCK: „The 2018 Château Smith Haut Lafitte is based on 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, all of which was brought up in 60% new French oak. Its dense purple color is followed by an incredible perfume of blackcurrants, blueberries, camphor, scorched earth, chocolate, and tobacco. It's young and unevolved, yet the purity is off the charts, and it slowly gives up more spice and floral notes with time in the glass. Hitting the palate with full-bodied richness, it's an incredibly concentrated, powerful wine that has plenty of baby fat covering serious amounts of underlying structure and tannins. It has some up-front appeal from an educational standpoint, yet really needs a decade of bottle age and is going to keep for 30-40 years in cold cellars. It comes closest in my mind to a mix of the 2010 and 2016.“

- 98 Punkte JAMES SUCKLING: „Purity of fruit here with plum and cherry aromas, as well as wet earth and spice. Light stone. Very floral and vivid. Full-bodied with layers of ripe tannins that are balanced and polished. Savory finish. Incredibly polished and refined. Goes on for minutes. One of the finest Smith-Haut Lafittes I have tasted. Drink after 2024.“

- 97+ Punkte Robert Parkers WINE ADVOCATE, Lisa Perrotti-Brown: „A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, aged in 60% new barriques, the very deep garnet-purple colored 2018 Smith Haut Lafitte bursts onto the scene with showy scents of crème de cassis, mocha, licorice and cedar chest, followed by suggestions of baked plums, smoked meats, tar and tobacco leaf. The medium to full-bodied palate brings sophistication to all that flamboyant fruit with a beautifully styled frame of finely grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing bright and fruity with loads of minerally sparks. This is a stunning, singular style that is sure to turn heads!“

- 97 Punkte WINESPECTATOR, James Molesworth: „Ripe and seductive, with a caressing wave of cassis, plum puree and blackberry compote flavors that hold sway throughout, but not without support from enticing savory, licorice, warm loam and mineral accents along the way. Cashmere finish lets everything sail on and on. Gorgeous. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024 through 2040. 10,000 cases made.“

- 96 Punkte WINE ENTHUSIAST, Roger Voss: „This wine offers rich licorice and blackberry flavors as well as freshness. It has structure and power while also showing fruitiness and acidity that offer poise. The wine's long-term future is assured. Drink from 2026. Organic and biodynamic.“

- 96 Punkte FALSTAFF, Peter Moser: „Dunkles Rubingranat, tiefer Farbkern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Attraktive schwarze Beerenfrucht, Nuancen von dunklen Kirschen und Cassis, etwas Lakritze, zart nussige Edelholzaromen. Saftig, stoffig, extraktsüßer Kern, elegant, tragende, runde Tannine, feine Beerenfrucht im Abgang, zart nach Nougat, mineralisch unterlegt, zeigt Länge, sicheres Reifepotenzial. (2020–2060)“