2016 Ch Smith-Haut-Lafitte Rouge Grand Cru Classé, Pessac-Léognan

Aromas of tar, smoke, herbs and dark fruit. Full-bodied with a soft, textural side. The tannins are smooth but precise, framing linear dark fruit and giving lovely overall balance. Drink now or hold. 10 Years On retrospective.

98 points Jacobo García Andrade for James Suckling Jan 2026

The 2016 Smith Haut Lafitte has a more discreet bouquet than I expected, and it takes a couple of minutes to open in the glass, revealing blackberry, briar, a touch of pressed iris and a wet limestone aroma. There is less tobacco than I expected, and a stonier style. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannin, perhaps the finest I’ve encountered in 20 years of visiting this estate. Very feminine and beautifully structured, and the 60% new oak is seamlessly assimilated. Extremely impressive and beguiling. This will be an irresistible Smith Haut Lafitte that gives 30 to 40 years of drinking pleasure.

97 points Neal Martin Vinous Jan 2019

Composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot and matured in 60% new oak for 18 months, the 2016 Smith Haut Lafitte has a very deep garnet-purple color, opening with sensuous scents of warm black cherries, blackberry pie, star anise and fragrant lilacs with hints of chocolate box, cigar box and pencil lead plus wafts of truffles and crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, rich and seductive, it completely fills the palate with perfumed black berry preserves and superbly plush tannins, finishing epically long and beautifully layered.

98 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown robertparker.com

From one of Bordeaux's most admired family estates, Château Smith Haut Lafitte has become a modern benchmark for Pessac Léognan. Purchased by Daniel and Florence Cathiard in 1990, the property has been transformed through meticulous vineyard work, sustainable practices and uncompromising attention to quality. Today, its Grand Cru Classé Rouge is celebrated for combining the power of Cabernet Sauvignon with the refinement and smoky elegance that define this historic appellation.

The exceptional 2016 vintage ranks among Bordeaux's greatest, producing fruit of extraordinary purity, freshness and concentration. The estate's deep Günzian gravel soils delivered Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot of remarkable intensity, while careful selection and élevage in French oak have created a wine of exceptional balance, precision and ageing potential.

Deep garnet with youthful ruby highlights, the bouquet is wonderfully complex, revealing cassis, blackberry and black cherry layered with cedar, graphite and the subtle smoky notes that are the hallmark of Pessac Léognan. As the wine evolves, aromas of violets, cigar box, truffle and dark chocolate emerge, adding remarkable depth and sophistication. The palate is powerful yet beautifully composed, with concentrated black fruits supported by cashmere fine tannins, vibrant acidity and an impeccably defined mineral backbone. The finish is long, seamless and intensely refined, lingering with savoury spice, smoky minerality and effortless elegance.

A magnificent partner for Chateaubriand, roast lamb, venison, duck with black truffle or mature Comté. Already exceptional with extended decanting, this outstanding Grand Cru Classé has the pedigree and structure to reward collectors for decades.

Cellaring: Drink now to 2055.