Château Smith Haut Lafitte Le Petit Haut Lafitte 2021

The 2020 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte is a gorgeous second wine. Dark cherry, grilled herbs, menthol, licorice, plum, spice and tobacco infuse the 2020 with striking aromatic nuance. Cabernet Sauvignon drives the blend, and that is very much in evidence in the wine's flavor profile and overall structure. There's terrific depth and density here, not to mention tons of character. Best After 2025

Very floral with sliced oranges, currants and tobacco leaf. Medium-bodied, fresh, crunchy and delicious. Lovely energy. Drink or hold.

This is laden with cassis and bilberry - Cabernet dominant, with clearly defined muscles. Juicy and elegant, I love this, it is less approachable now than the Petit Haut de Smith, but hugely enjoyable, and has the precision that is the mark of the good wines in this vintage. A touch of austerity on the finish. 30% new oak.

The 2020 Le Petit Haut Lafitte checks in as a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Blueberries, black cherries, tobacco, and earthy notes all define the bouquet, and it’s medium to full-bodied on the palate and dense, with plenty of richness and building tannins. This is another seriously delicious, satisfying Pessac-Léognan that does everything right.

More serious and structured than the Hauts de Smit, reflecting the larger proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, the 2020 Le Petit Haut Lafitte reveals aromas of cassis, plums, bay leaf and smoke, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and incisive palate framed by youthfully chalky tannins.