Château Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge 2023
Pessac-Léognan Grand Cru Classé
Bordeaux, France
Regular price£594.00
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Arriving: Spring 2026
Shipping duty paid to Mainland UK is charged at a flat rate of £9.99 per consignment and POA for Northern Ireland or Islands.
Shipping under bond is dependant on location, but starts at £15 per consignment.
| Style: Red | Packaging: OWC |
| ABV: % | Closure: Cork |
| Organic: | Drink from: 2030 |
| Biodynamic: | Drink to: 2050 |
| Grapes: | |
Critic scores
96 RP, 96 NM, 96 AG, 98 JS, 98 JA
Critic reviews
"Confirming the impression it conveyed en primeur, the 2023 Smith Haut Lafitte is a superb effort, offering aromas of licorice, spices, dark berries, rose petals and clove. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and architecturally structured, it is built around a fleshy, concentrated core of fruit, supported by abundant, seamlessly integrated tannins, culminating in a long, mineral and penetrating finish. The decision to extend macerations—favoring gentle, prolonged extraction over short, forceful cuvaison—has endowed the wine with both textural refinement and the structural reserves to reward long cellaring."
Yohan Castaing, April 2026, RobertParker.com
"The 2023 Smith Haut Lafitte, which has more Cabernet than usual due to the mildew-affected Merlot and the quality of the Cabernet itself. It has a really lovely bouquet that makes an immediate impact: blackberry and boysenberry fruit, subtle hints of violet and cassis. Very pure and well-defined. The palate is medium-bodied with silky tannins, perfectly pitched acidity, very harmonious and poised, with a gradual build toward the finish. This is one of the best reds that you will find in the 2023 vintage in Bordeaux — superb."
Neal Martin, February 2026, Vinous.com
"The 2023 Smith Haut Lafitte is packed with sumptuous black cherry fruit, gravel, dried herbs, licorice and tobacco. Floral overtones appear with air, adding layers of dimension and complexity. There's a bit more Cabernet Sauvignon in this year's blend because Merlot suffered more through mildew episodes. That yields a Grand Vin that is a bit less sensual in the early going but also more explosive and powerful."
Antonio Galloni, March 2026, Vinous.com
"This shows currant, tobacco and hazelnut aromas that follow through to a medium body with crunchy character and open-grain tannins that are velvety and so attractive. Graceful, friendly, crunchy and beautiful. The highest percentage ever of cabernet sauvignon in this wine. 70% cabernet sauvignon, 23% merlot, 6% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. From biodynamically grown grapes. Best after 2028."
James Suckling, January 2026, JamesSuckling.com
"This is just a beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon wine, cassis, bilberry, blueberry, iris flowers, crushed violets, mint leaf, squid ink, cramming secondary waves of flavour and aromatics, sit back and enjoy. Easy to smile at the precision on display here, delicate but with an intensity and concentration that tiptoes through the palate. Fabulous. Fabien Teitgen winemaker on his 28th vintage, and 24th as technical director. This is the vintage where you have King Charles and Camilla visiting, so has a special label. 26hl/h yields for the reds here."
Jane Anson, March 2026, JaneAnson.com
Yohan Castaing, April 2026, RobertParker.com
"The 2023 Smith Haut Lafitte, which has more Cabernet than usual due to the mildew-affected Merlot and the quality of the Cabernet itself. It has a really lovely bouquet that makes an immediate impact: blackberry and boysenberry fruit, subtle hints of violet and cassis. Very pure and well-defined. The palate is medium-bodied with silky tannins, perfectly pitched acidity, very harmonious and poised, with a gradual build toward the finish. This is one of the best reds that you will find in the 2023 vintage in Bordeaux — superb."
Neal Martin, February 2026, Vinous.com
"The 2023 Smith Haut Lafitte is packed with sumptuous black cherry fruit, gravel, dried herbs, licorice and tobacco. Floral overtones appear with air, adding layers of dimension and complexity. There's a bit more Cabernet Sauvignon in this year's blend because Merlot suffered more through mildew episodes. That yields a Grand Vin that is a bit less sensual in the early going but also more explosive and powerful."
Antonio Galloni, March 2026, Vinous.com
"This shows currant, tobacco and hazelnut aromas that follow through to a medium body with crunchy character and open-grain tannins that are velvety and so attractive. Graceful, friendly, crunchy and beautiful. The highest percentage ever of cabernet sauvignon in this wine. 70% cabernet sauvignon, 23% merlot, 6% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. From biodynamically grown grapes. Best after 2028."
James Suckling, January 2026, JamesSuckling.com
"This is just a beautiful Cabernet Sauvignon wine, cassis, bilberry, blueberry, iris flowers, crushed violets, mint leaf, squid ink, cramming secondary waves of flavour and aromatics, sit back and enjoy. Easy to smile at the precision on display here, delicate but with an intensity and concentration that tiptoes through the palate. Fabulous. Fabien Teitgen winemaker on his 28th vintage, and 24th as technical director. This is the vintage where you have King Charles and Camilla visiting, so has a special label. 26hl/h yields for the reds here."
Jane Anson, March 2026, JaneAnson.com