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Petit Haut Lafitte (2nd wine of Smith Haut Lafitte) 2023
Pessac-Leognan, Second wine
| GBP Price: | Size | Quantities | Units | status | Actions |
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| £138 per Case | 6x75cl | 0 | - | [Add to shopping basket] |
| Tasting Notes | ||||
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More Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated, the 2023 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. It has another level of elegance, with medium to full-bodied aromas and flavors of cassis, graphite, chocolate, and scorched earth. It offers beautifully balanced, ripe, polished tannins and a great finish. - Jeb Dunnuck Score: 92 - 94 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Date: 08 May 2024 |
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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. Score: 93 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2027-2038 Date: 02 May 2024 |
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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. Score: 92 - 95 Antonio Galloni, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2027-2038 Date: 30 April 2024 |
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The 2023 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte has a more floral bouquet than the Les Hauts de Smith: violet-tinged black fruit, cedar and light crushed stone aromas. The palate is medium-bodied and the 30% new oak is neatly integrated. There's fine grip with just the right amount of bitterness on the finish to lend edge. Recommended. Score: 91 - 93 Neal Martin, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2027-2040 Date: 29 April 2024 |
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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. Tasted by Yohan Castaing. Since achieving organic certification with the 2019 vintage, Smith Haut Lafitte has completely transformed its agricultural practices. The estate eliminated herbicides back in 1991, dramatically reducing chemical treatments and initially experiencing reduced yields. However, advancements in technology and methods have since alleviated these challenges. The vineyard employs cover crops in central and western sections where drainage is poor, and hedges have been planted to foster biodiversity. Ultraviolet treatments are being tested as a substitute for copper sulfate to further reduce chemical dependency. The winemaking process has also been refined to be less invasive: reds undergo cool, extended macerations with periodic punch-downs, while whites benefit from whole-cluster pressing in an inverted press, enhancing structural elegance and vitality in the wines. Since 1995, the Cathiards have developed their own nursery in collaboration with Bérillon for massal selection, and the estate boasts an in-house cooperage, sourcing oak from Tronçais and Jupilles for reds and Loches for whites, which adds tension. In 2023, the result is a lineup of bright and lively wines, both reds and whites, featuring a firm, structured mid-palate. These could gain even further elegance with winemaking practices perfectly tailored to the specific terroirs. Score: 90 - 92 William Kelley, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2025-2035 Date: 26 April 2024 |
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