2023 Petit Smith-Haut-Lafitte Rouge (Pessac)

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. 91 points

Structured and pretty serious Petit SHL, focusing on blue and black fuits, good structure and tension, showcases the quality of this year`s Cabernet Sauvignon, highlighting the nuance and inky character of the grape in 2023, harvest September 8 to October 5. 93 points

The 2023 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte is another stellar wine from the team at Smith Haut Lafitte. It screams with Cabernet Sauvignon character. Inky dark fruit, blackberry, gravel, pencil shavings, crushed rocks, lavender and sage saturate the palate. The tannins will need time to soften. Small berries and thick skins yielded an especially serious Petit Smith Haut Lafitte that is quite impressive. 92-95 points

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. 90-92 points