2017 Château Smith Haut Lafitte “Le Petit Haut Lafitte”

Description

93   Antonio Galloni for Vinous
“The 2017 Le Petit Haut Lafitte is another gorgeous wine in this range. Cabernet Sauvignon flavors are really popping today in a wine that is rich, deep and super-expressive. Iron, sweet red cherry, mint, dried flowers and white pepper all run through this gorgeous second wine from Smith Haut Lafitte. The 2017 could use a few years in bottle to fully come together, as the tannins are pretty fierce today. Quite frankly the Le Petit Haut Lafitte could challenge many grand vins in 2017.”

92   Roger Voss for Wine Enthusiast
“With a focus on Cabernet Sauvignon, this second wine of Smith Haut Lafitte is dense, laden with tannins and ripe berry flavors. Structured and complex, the wine is likely to age, the tannins filling out to give future richness. Drink the wine from 2022.”

92   James Suckling
“Beautiful spice character to this with blackberries and black olives. Medium body. Round, juicy tannins and a flavorful finish. Drink after 2021.”

90   Jane Anson
“This is beautifully constructed throughout, with fresh, bright acidity giving form and shape to the palate, showing damson fruit and a layer of rich, creamy tannins beneath. There’s plenty to work with here: good texture and attractive black fruits – but once again, the austerity is striking and the fruit character has tightness around the middle that suggests a day or two longer on the vine would have been helpful. 20% new oak. 15% frost affected. From young vines. Drinking Window 2022 – 2038.”

90   Lisa Perrotti-Brown
“Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Le Petit Haut Lafitte delivers a slightly broody nose of tar, new leather and truffles over an emerging core of warm plums, mulberries and boysenberries with a touch of anise. Medium-bodied, the palate offers loads of black cherries and savory hints with a plush frame and earthy finish.”