Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Leognan 2022

Tastingbook.com

Decanter

Beautiful nose, blackcurrant, vanilla, caramel, chocolate, tobacco, cherries, crushed stones, blue fruit and bramble fruits. Sleek and straight, nice acidity, but this is quite linear with the Cabernet really giving the backbone, length and overall structure. Feels a bit tense, but it does have texture too so it’s not austere or harsh, just strong. Really well built, delivering power no doubt, but keeping a soft juiciness underneath. Very medicinal - clove, liquorice, unmistakable Cabernet speaking here, but feels clean and well worked. Nothing sticking out too much with body, plushness and cool freshness. Good potential, really impressively constructed. 3.7p. Ageing 30% new oak.

Jeb Dunnuck

More Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated, the 2022 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot that spent 14 months in 20% new French oak. It's even better than the Les Hauts de Smith and has gorgeous aromatics of black cherries, currants, scorched earth, tobacco, and graphite. This textured, medium to full-bodied, seamless beauty has ripe tannins, a layered, balanced mouthfeel, and a great finish. This matches, if not exceeds, the 2020.

James Suckling

Aromas of currants and blackberries with orange peel and rose petals follow through to a medium body with racy and polished tannins that go on for a long time. Vivid and energetic. Second wine of Smith Haut-Laffite. 60% cabernet sauvignon and 40% merlot.

Vinum

Expressive, with notes of mint, cassis, and white pepper — a textbook Cabernet nose. On the palate, focused and dense with excellent structure; powerful and energetic, showing great length, plenty of spice, and a fascinating freshness. A great “little” Smith Haut Lafitte.

Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider

Showing a nice depth of color, the wine exudes cigar box, cedar, mint, currants, and blackberries. Elegant, fresh, and balanced, the wine delivers its layers of sweet, ripe, black, and red fruits effortlessly. This is the finest vintage of Le Petit Haut Lafitte ever produced. It promises to drink well for at least 15 years or more. The wine is made from a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 40% Merlot.

Alexandre Ma

The sensory experience of Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte 2022 is indeed intriguing; it exudes sweetness on the nose, yet reveals a savoury palate upon tasting. Despite its heightened ripeness, it never loses its way, instead showcasing an ideal freshness at every turn. The soul of this wine lies in its silky tannins, which maintain their softness despite their ample presence. For a fleeting moment, I thought I was tasting a Cabernet Sauvignon blend, rather than a Merlot-driven wine.

Jean-Marc Quarin

Markus del Monego MW

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

Deep plum colour, plenty of creamy fruits here, with a good dash of bitterness that adds focus and mouthwatering quality. This is again Cabernet dominant, with tension and freshness, excellent perfume as the wine unfolds and opens in the mouth. A savoury, lovely Petit Smith Haut Lafitte, shows how ripe things got in this vintage, but they are doing a great job of keeping the delivery measured, one to look out for. In the signature of the wine, all in balance. 15% new oak for ageing.

Antonio Galloni

The 2022 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte is a rich, heady wine. A blast of dark cherry, plum, licorice, menthol, chocolate, tobacco and incense makes a strong opening impression. This Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend is all opulence. I would give it a few years to settle down.

Vert de Vin Magazine

The nose is beautifully deep, elegant and offers a certain complexity, intensity in mastery as well as a stretch side. We find notes of brilliant cassis, brilliant cherry and small notes of racy gravel associated with touches of bright red berries, ripe/crushed cranberry, fine hints of cornflower/flower, fresh licorice stick, a discreet hint of infusion, an almost black cherry/colas hint and a fine hint of Timut pepper. An imperceptible hint of tangerine peel. The palate is well-built, supple, elegant, harmonious, intense and offers precision, suppleness and a lovely minerality. Deep and delicate at the same time. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy cassis, brilliant cherry and, small notes of, bright raspberry, associated with touches of almost sweet tangerine as well as fine hints of chocolate, toasted hazelnut and a subtle, almost infusion-like hint. An imperceptible hint of very ripe peach in the background. Almost an exotic touch in the grapes. The tannins are delicate and textured. An aerial wine and perfectly balanced despite its power and richness.