Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte - Pessac-Léognan 2020 (750ml)
Price: $174.00
| Producer | Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Subregion | Pessac-Leognan |
| Varietal | Bordeaux Blend |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Sku | 1006816 |
| Size | 750ml |
James Suckling: 99-100 Points
So much blackcurrant graphite and iodine character. Full-bodied. Incredible quality to the tannins. They are polished yet powerful. It?s so long and complete with such depth and toned muscles. Vertical. Very fresh and energetic. Will it be better than the famous 2015? Maybe the best ever. From organically grown grapes. 65% cabernet sauvignon 30% merlot 4% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot.
vJeb Dunnuck: 97-100 Points
Possibly ranking with the top two or three wines of the vintage the 202
Wine Advocate: 98-100 Points
A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon 30% Merlot 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot aging in 60% new barriques the very deep purple-black colored 2020 Smith Haut Lafitte makes an impactful entrance opening with flamboyant notes of blackcurrant pastilles chocolate-covered cherries and molten licorice leading to nuances of ground cloves woodsmoke crushed rocks and dusty soil. The medium to full-bodied palate bursts with opulent black fruit preserves and shimmering mineral sparks framed by exquisitely ripe and fantastically firm tannins and seamless freshness finishing with epically long-lasting earthy and savory layers. This is the singular voice of Smith Haut Lafitte at its finest and wow-oh-wow is it worth a listen. This 2020 has an alcohol of 14.5% with a pH of 3.65. The tannins this year were a little higher than 2018 and 2019. A little less than a third of production went into this grand vin.
Vinous: 95-97 Points
The 2020 Smith Haut Lafitte is a thrilling wine of grandeur and spellbinding beauty. The aromatics literally soar out of the glass perhaps driven by a touch more Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. A vertical explosive wine the 2020 possesses tremendous energy. It is a rapturous wine that will delight readers for years to come. A move towards gentler extractions with less oak impact allows the purity of the fruit to come through loud and clear. Inky dark cherry plum mocha dried herbs and lavender are all amplified in the 2020 but what I admire most is a total sense of harmony. I can't wait to see how it ages as evolution has at times been the sole Achilles heel here.
