99pts James Suckling

Intense blackberry and graphite character coming out of the glass, together with dried violets, ink and some asphalt. Full-bodied with wonderfully integrated tannins that spread across the palate and then draw you deep into the wine. Lead-pencil and blackcurrant aftertaste. Tightly wound with a cashmere-like texture. A whole and thought-provoking wine.

99pts Lisa Perrotti-Brown - Wine Independent

The 2019 Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge comes from terroir composed of 60% gravel and 40% clay and is a blend of around 2/3 Cabernet Sauvignon and 1/3 Merlot with a splash of Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs considerable swirling to unlock notes of blackcurrant preserves, stewed plums, and juicy blackberries, with hints of candied violets, licorice, espresso, and tapenade, plus wafts of crushed rocks and wood smoke. Full-bodied, rich, and opulent in the mouth, it has very firm, super-ripe, fine-grained tannins and bold freshness to support the voluptuous, mineral-accented fruit, finishing very long and achingly perfumed.

98pts Jeb Dunnuck

Reminding me a little of the 2009, the 2019 Château Smith Haut Lafitte has a rich, powerful style in its cassis, blueberry, and black raspberry fruit as well as its chalky minerality, smoked earth, tobacco, and lead pencil shaving-like aromas and flavors. A blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot, this rich, unctuously textured beauty has terrific concentration, sweet tannins, and the vintage's hallmark elegance and finesse. One of the most concentrated, powerful wines in the vintage, it needs 4-5 years of bottle age (or a healthy decant) and will evolve for 30+ years if stored properly. Not enough can be said about what proprietors Daniel and Florence Cathiard, as well as winemaker Fabien Teitgen, continue to achieve at this estate.

98pts Wine Enthusiast

Rich in black fruits with a structure that acts as a support. Acidity and blackberry flavors with hints of black coffee and a core of denseness that is very fine. The wine will age well, drink from 2026. Organic and biodynamic.

96pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

The 2019 Smith Haut Lafitte has turned out very well indeed, unwinding in the glass with a complex bouquet of dark berries, cassis, forest floor, pencil shavings, licorice and spices. Full-bodied, broad and velvety, it's layered and elegantly muscular, underpinned by rich structuring tannins and lively acids, and it concludes with a long, expansive finish. This is another estate where the viticultural and stylistic evolutions of the last decade have delivered a beautifully balanced, harmonious 2019. Best after 2026.

96pts Wilfred Wong

Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte always makes a statement, and the 2019 vintage does that. This outstanding wine is impressive with concentrated aromas and flavors of black fruit and oak. Its sublime finish ties it all together. Enjoy it with grilled lamb shanks. 

95pts Wine Spectator

A broad, rich and caressing wine, with a lovely display of cassis, plum puree and blackberry pâte de fruit notes. There's form thanks to a buried alder note, along with sweet tobacco and iron accents on the finish. A strong showing. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024.

94pts Decanter

Green bell pepper, eucalyptus, dark chocolate and perfumed cherries and blackcurrants on the nose - so much aromatic intensity. Immediate impact on the palate with weighty tannins that are ample and mouthcoating giving the softly sweet raspberry and red cherry flavours structure and grip. A juicy core is offset by hints of wood spice which linger on the finish so this needs more time but there is excellent vibrancy and life here and strong markers of the vintage and terroir.

Winemaker's Notes

This wine has a dark red, almost black colour. The nose is redolent of fresh fruit (raspberries, cherries, strawberries) and, after swirling in the glass, more complex notes of spice, dried herbs, fennel, and a slight floral nuance.

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.

Winery Notes

In 1990, Daniel and Florence Cathiard fell in love with Château Smith Haut Lafitte, which they acquired with the firm intention of perpetuating its tradition of excellence. “Our philosophy can be summed up in one sentence: to do everything possible to make each vintage of red and white wine worthy of our magnificent terroir.”

After three years spent renovating the estate, the Cathiards came to live there, in the 18th century chartreuse dating from George Smith’s time, in order to devote themselves to overseeing winegrowing, with the help of a talented and motivated team.

Blend: 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot