Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac Léognan, 2019

The 2019 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge is made from 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs a little coaxing to bring out notes of blackcurrant pastilles, stewed black and red cherries, and baking spices, leading to an earthy undercurrent of mossy tree bark and tilled soil. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a very serious backbone of firm, ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness supporting the taut black fruits, finishing on a mineral-tinged note. This wine should age well!

DRINKING WINDOW 2024 - 2042

date of review 05/2022

More serious than the forward Les Hauts de Smith, the 2019 Le Petit Haut Lafitte contains only 40% Merlot, with the balance Cabernet Sauvignon. Exhibiting aromas of creme de cassis, sweet berries, cocoa nib, pencil shavings and loamy soil, it's medium to full-bodied, lively and concentrated, with a more structured, reserved profile but more incipient complexity too.

DRINKING WINDOW 2023 - 2036

date of review 04/2022

The 2019 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte has a lively bouquet of blackberry, briar and just a hint of espresso, classic in style and nicely focused. The palate is medium-bodied with a smooth texture and quite approachable in style (not "furry," as I found last year). It builds pleasantly toward the finish, which displays impressive density combined with elegance. A couple of years in bottle will do this fine.

DRINKING WINDOW 2024 - 2037

date of review 02/2022