The 2017 Smith Haut Lafitte is a bold yet elegant expression of the vintage—dark, intense, and polished. It opens with a rush of red and black fruits, laced with violets, cocoa, and that signature smoky edge. There's a great balance between richness and freshness, with tannins that are smooth but still give the wine structure and depth. It’s layered, precise, and just starting to hit its stride now, but there's plenty of time ahead for it to evolve beautifully. A refined, quietly powerful wine that really captures the house style.

The Wine Advocate | RP 97+
Published: Mar 16, 2020
Drink: 2024-2057

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Smith Haut Lafitte charges out of the gate with bold expressions of warm redcurrants, baked blackberries and cr?me de cassis with hints of spice cake, dried roses, underbrush and pencil lead plus a waft of candied violets. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has a fantastic core of densely packed red and black fruits, framed by wonderfully ripe, rounded tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and perfumed. 

Jamessuckling.com | JS 97
Published: Dec 11, 2019

Wonderful depth of fruit here with blackberries, wet earth, mushrooms, dark chocolate and violets. Full-bodied, tight and poised with polished and compressed tannins. Consistent finish. Linear and focused. A blend of 60% cabernet sauvignon, 35% merlot, 4% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. Drinkable now, but better in 2022.

Decanter | D 95
Published: Jun 8, 2021
Drink: 2025-2040

The 2017s in Bordeaux are truly stunning; this is no exception, possessing a smoky bouquet with mocha, cocoa and toasty notes, and a fresh and peppery nose. Juicy and sappy, the palate is medium-bodied, layered and textured, with both elegant and velvety tannins. It's a profound 2017.
Closure: Cork
Alcohol: 13.50%
Body: Full
Oak: Oaked
Grapes: 4% Cabernet Franc 60% Cabernet Sauvignon 35% Merlot

Smith-haut-lafitte.com

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.

Yield: 35 hl/ha, prior to selection for the estate’s three wines: Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Les Hauts de Smith and Le Petit Haut Lafitte.
Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon 35% Merlot 4% Cabernet Franc 1% Petit Verdot
Winemaking: Whole grapes are fermented at 28°C in small wooden vats with extraction by manual punching down.
Aging: 18 months in barrels (60% are new barrels produced in our in-house cooperage), with aging on lees. After being racked a single time, wine is aged according to its profile.
Age of vines: 38 years old