«…the very deep purple-black colored 2018 Smith Haut Lafitte is a little shy to begin. With coaxing, it very slowly unfurls to reveal a heart-stopping perfume of violets, red roses, kirsch, black cherries and redcurrant jelly, before giving way to a profound core of warm blackcurrants, blackberry preserves, molten licorice and cinnamon stick with nuances of dried mint, orange blossoms (yes!) and cloves. Full-bodied, the fruit does veritable pirouettes on your palate, both elegant and powerful in its expression, coating the mouth with densely packed red and black fruits while revealing tons of mineral, floral and savory sparks, framed by exquisitely fine-grained tannins and bold freshness, finishing very long.»

Ripe and lush, with delicious waves of plum, blackberry and black currant preserve flavors laced with subtle charcoal, tobacco and licorice notes. There's a long flow through the finish. Beautifully rendered, capturing the ripeness of the vintage in spades without being heady at all.

This is incredibly complex with hazelnut, currant, berry and dried-flower character. The impression of a vat of fermenting cabernet. Full body, round and juicy tannins and a long, soft and silky finish. Shows the essence of the fruit here. Fascinating. Layered and complex.

There is a luxurious, languorous feel right from the very first nose here, which continues step for step all the way through the palate. It's a highly impressive wine with an amazing texture - something that is starting to mark Smith Haut Lafitte out every year.

Le château n’a produit qu’une demi-récolte d’un vin à la fois racé, dense et serré. La bouche se montre grasse, charnue et allongée. Un vin tout en muscles, avec des tanins qui demeurent très fins.

Couleur rouge sombre, de bonne intensité et belle. Nez intense, fin, fruité, pur et crémeux. Minutieux à l’attaque, fondant au développement, très aromatique et juteux, le vin glisse en bouche, parfumé et savoureux, long, avec du chic et de l’arôme. C’est très bon.

Dichtes Granat mit aufhellendem Rand. Komplexes, leicht introvertiertes Bouquet mit Wildkirsche und frischen Küchenkräutern, dahinter Wacholder und Himbeeren. Am kräftigen Gaumen mit stützendem, engmaschigem Tanningerüst, salziger Textur, zeigt viel Souplesse und Kraft. Im gebündelten Finale mit schwarzen Oliven, tasmanischem Bergpfeffer und Cassis. Ein grosser SHL mit grossem Alterungspotenzial!

Très dense, il impose toute sa puissance musculeuse. Le fruit encore monolithique vient au contact du palais par grandes_ vagues de mûre épicée, porté par une générosité solaire qui ne se voile pas la face. Ses tanins fermes auront besoin de temps pour s'affiner.

Intensives Bouquet, Kaffee, schwarze Brombeeren, Heidelbeeren, Zigarrenkiste, Zimt. Gute Oichte, saftig, feines Tannin, gute Struktur, teine Saure, reife Himbeeren, Brombeeren, Bitter-schokolade, schwarzer Holunder im Finish, lang.

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.