Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte 2018

  • 99 Decanter
  • 99 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 98 James
    Suckling
  • 97 Wine
    Spectator
  • 97 Wine
    Enthusiast
  • 97 Robert
    Parker
4.4 Very Good (32)
Sold Out - was $144.99
OFFER Take $20 off your order of $100+
Ships Thu, Apr 4
0
Limit Reached
Alert me about new vintages and availability
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte  2018  Front Bottle Shot
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte  2018  Front Bottle Shot Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte  2018  Front Label Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte  2018 A Closer Look at the 2018 Vintage Product Video

Product Details


Varietal

Region

Producer

Vintage
2018

Size
750ML

ABV
14.5%

Features
Collectible

Your Rating

0.0 Not For Me NaN/NaN/N

Somm Note

Winemaker Notes

The wine is straightforward and well-balanced on the palate, with good concentration and plenty of volume. Despite a substantial quantity of tannin, it remains smooth and rich, with excellent balance between substance, density and freshness. The texture is delicate and precise. The finish is very long and complex with fresh red fruit, liquorice and cinnamon, as well as more terroir-induced notes of smoke and flint. <p>

Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot

Professional Ratings

  • 99
    One of the more notable successes in Pessac-Léognan is this 2018 thanks to its wonderful bouquet of red cherry, spring flowers, cedar and liquorice, graphite aromas and elegant earthy notes. With building tannins, a fresh, focused texture, and a great finish, it's not for those looking for instant gratification, and I suspect it will need a solid decade or more of cellaring, but it will evolve for 50 years or more.
  • 99

    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

    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

    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.

  • 97

    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 longterm future is assured. Drink from 2026. Organic and biodynamic. Cellar Selection

  • 97

    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! Rating: 97+

Other Vintages

2022
  • 98 James
    Suckling
  • 98 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 97 Decanter
  • 95 Robert
    Parker
2021
  • 97 James
    Suckling
  • 97 Vinous
  • 95 Robert
    Parker
  • 95 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 94 Decanter
2020
  • 100 Robert
    Parker
  • 100 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 100 James
    Suckling
  • 98 Wine
    Enthusiast
  • 97 Decanter
  • 95 Wine
    Spectator
2019
  • 99 James
    Suckling
  • 98 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 98 Wine
    Enthusiast
  • 97 Decanter
  • 96 Robert
    Parker
  • 96 Wilfred
    Wong
  • 95 Wine
    Spectator
2017
  • 97 Robert
    Parker
  • 97 James
    Suckling
  • 96 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 95 Wine
    Enthusiast
  • 95 Wine
    Spectator
  • 95 Decanter
2016
  • 100 Decanter
  • 98 Wine
    Spectator
  • 98 Robert
    Parker
  • 97 Wine
    Enthusiast
  • 97 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 97 James
    Suckling
  • 94 Connoisseurs'
    Guide
2015
  • 99 James
    Suckling
  • 98 Decanter
  • 97 Robert
    Parker
  • 96 Wine
    Spectator
  • 96 Wine
    Enthusiast
  • 96 Jeb
    Dunnuck
2014
  • 97 Wine
    Enthusiast
  • 96 James
    Suckling
  • 96 Wilfred
    Wong
  • 96 Wine
    Spectator
  • 94 Decanter
  • 93 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 93 Robert
    Parker
2012
  • 96 Wilfred
    Wong
  • 95 Robert
    Parker
  • 95 James
    Suckling
  • 94 Wine
    Spectator
  • 94 Decanter
  • 94 Wine
    Enthusiast
2011
  • 95 Decanter
  • 94 James
    Suckling
  • 94 Robert
    Parker
  • 93 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 93 Wine
    Spectator
  • 93 Wine
    Enthusiast
2010
  • 100 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 99 Decanter
  • 98 Robert
    Parker
  • 96 Wine
    Spectator
  • 96 Wine
    Enthusiast
  • 95 James
    Suckling
2009
  • 100 Robert
    Parker
  • 98 Decanter
  • 96 Wine
    Spectator
  • 96 James
    Suckling
  • 94 Wine
    Enthusiast
2008
  • 93 Decanter
  • 93 James
    Suckling
  • 92 Robert
    Parker
  • 92 Wine
    Enthusiast
  • 91 Wine
    Spectator
2007
  • 91 Robert
    Parker
  • 90 Wine
    Spectator
  • 90 Wine
    Enthusiast
2006
  • 93 Robert
    Parker
  • 92 Wine
    Spectator
  • 90 Wine
    Enthusiast
2005
  • 98 Jeb
    Dunnuck
  • 98 Robert
    Parker
  • 95 James
    Suckling
  • 94 Wine &
    Spirits
  • 93 Wine
    Spectator
2004
  • 93 Robert
    Parker
  • 93 Wine
    Enthusiast
  • 91 Wine &
    Spirits
  • 90 Wine
    Spectator
2003
  • 93 James
    Suckling
  • 93 Wine
    Spectator
  • 91 Robert
    Parker
2002
  • 90 Wine
    Spectator
  • 90 Robert
    Parker
2001
  • 92 Robert
    Parker
2000
  • 95 Robert
    Parker
  • 93 Wine
    Enthusiast
  • 93 Wine &
    Spirits
  • 90 Wine
    Spectator
  • 90 Decanter
  • 90 James
    Suckling
1998
  • 93 Wine
    Spectator
  • 93 James
    Suckling
  • 90 Robert
    Parker
  • 90 Wine &
    Spirits
1996
  • 90 Robert
    Parker
1995
  • 90 Robert
    Parker
  • 90 Wine
    Spectator
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte

Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte

View all products
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, France
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Winery Image

Thanks to its 55 hectares of superb gravelly vineyards, Smith Haut Lafitte is often referred to as the "archetypical Graves." The estate's history goes back to the Crusades, and a Scottish navigator, George Smith, who became the owner of the estate in the 18th century. He was followed by M. Duffour-Dubergier, Mayor of Bordeaux, and then Louis Eschenauer, a famous wine shipper.

In 1990, Daniel and Florence Cathiard also fell under the spell of this beautiful estate. Since then, they have restored the 16th century tower, renovated the 18th century manor house, built two underground cellars, went back to traditional vine growing methods without chemical herbicides and set up their own cooperage. The perfect elegance, excellent balance and fine structure of Smith Haut Lafitte's red and white wines are the ultimate reflection of the current owners' total commitment to quality.

Image for Bordeaux Blends content section
View all products

One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.

Image for Pessac-Leognan Wine Bordeaux, France content section

Pessac-Leognan Wine

Bordeaux, France

View all products

Recognized for its superior reds as well as whites, Pessac-Léognan on the Left Bank claims classified growths for both—making it quite unique in comparison to its neighboring Médoc properties.

Pessac’s Chateau Haut-Brion, the only first growth located outside of the Médoc, is said to have been the first to conceptualize fine red wine in Bordeaux back in the late 1600s. The estate, along with its high-esteemed neighbors, La Mission Haut-Brion, Les Carmes Haut-Brion, Pique-Caillou and Chateau Pape-Clément are today all but enveloped by the city of Bordeaux. The rest of the vineyards of Pessac-Léognan are in clearings of heavily forested area or abutting dense suburbs.

Arid sand and gravel on top of clay and limestone make the area unique and conducive to growing Sémillon and Sauvignon blanc as well as the grapes in the usual Left Bank red recipe: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and miniscule percentages of Petit Verdot and Malbec.

The best reds will show great force and finesse with inky blue and black fruit, mushroom, forest, tobacco, iodine and a smooth and intriguing texture.

Its best whites show complexity, longevity and no lack of exotic twists on citrus, tropical and stone fruit with pronounced floral and spice characteristics.

FCA520668_2018 Item# 520668

Internet Explorer is no longer supported.
Please use a different browser like Edge, Chrome or Firefox to enjoy all that Wine.com has to offer.

It's easy to make the switch.
Enjoy better browsing and increased security.

Yes, Update Now

Search for ""