Château Smith Haut Lafitte - Pessac-Léognan - Red - 2021

Wine:

Driven by masterful handling of Cabernet Sauvignon (63%), the 2021 Red from Château Smith Haut Lafitte in Pessac-Léognan delivers a silky, elegant wine with velvety tannins. While others stumbled in this vintage, Smith Haut Lafitte absolutely nailed it. James Suckling raves about “a refined wine, intense and persistent,” while the Parker Guide praises its “depth and remarkable balance.” Fresh berry aromas, laced with spice and floral notes, unfold in a polished, satin-like texture — suave yet concentrated, gliding effortlessly into a long, graceful finish. In short? Sublime. Scored 95/100 by Parker and 96–97/100 by James Suckling.

Vinification:

Hand harvested. Vinification of whole berries in small wooden vats at 28°C. Aged on lees for 18 months in barrels (60% new).

Color:

Ruby red with beautiful intensity.

Nose:

Aromas of red and black fruits combined with spicy notes, licorice, and floral hints.

Palate:

Well-balanced and fresh, this wine reveals a beautiful complexity of flavors, with refined, concentrated, and smooth textures and a long, elegant finish.

Temperature:

Serve between 14 and 16°C.

Food and wine pairing:

Beef rib, roast guinea fowl, pan-fried duck breast with blackcurrant reduction, pulled pork with spices.

Cellar aging:

From now until 2040

A star of Pessac-Léognan and twice awarded by the prestigious French wine magazine RVF (Revue du Vin de France), Château Smith Haut Lafitte has built its reputation on precision and consistency. Everything here is dialled in to combine cutting-edge techniques with top-tier quality: their own barrel workshop, biodynamic farming, meticulous selection and blending — not a note out of tune.

Consistently praised by Parker, this Red from the estate now enjoys serious clout. And let’s be honest — the royal boost from King Charles III’s visit in September 2023, along with the wine spa complex Les Caudalies, has only added to its legend. A bucket-list stop for any wine lover.

2021 was a cool, clean-cut vintage that slipped under the radar — unfairly so. The wines are textbook Bordeaux: classic, structured, and built to age. With their Atlantic influence, they bring back the golden era of Bordeaux — elegant, food-friendly wines designed for the table.