critic reviews
Lots of crayon, graphite, liquorice, iris, pencil lead, squid ink, very much in the signature of this wine, structured yet gentle, with grilled cumin spices, cold ash. It's fairly serious right now, but with momentum and energy, and well defined black fruits that will give a ton of pleasure within a few years, or hold on for a good decade or more. Excellent quality. Fabien Teitgen technical director, September 8 to October 5. 25% new oak.
The 2023 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte has a higher-toned, more vibrant bouquet than the Les Hauts de Smith: black cherries mixed with iodine and potpourri scents. The oak is neatly integrated here. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins, cohesive and very Pessac in style with a touch of flint and brine. Maybe there is not the persistence of the previous finish, but still a lovely wine that might mature better in bottle than you might presuppose.
A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge 2023 is aging in 30% new oak. It has a deep garnet-purple color and it rolls out of the glass with ready-to-go scents of crème de cassis, preserved plums, and redcurrant jelly, followed by hints of lavender, mossy tree bark, and fallen leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is expansive and juicy, with loads of savory accents and firm, grainy tannins, finishing long with a minerally lift.
The 2023 Le Petit Haut Lafitte reveals fresh and dark aromas of licorice, smoke, dark wild berries and violet. Medium to full-bodied, it is more structured and serious than Les Hauts de Smith, with a layered, structured mid-palate, a fleshy core of fruit and a long, saline, chalky finish. Classically composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, it is matured in 30% new oak barrels.