The 2018 Smith-Haut-Lafitte Bordeaux Blend is a highly acclaimed red wine from the Pessac-Léognan sub-region of Bordeaux, France. This vintage is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot, with an alcohol content of 14.5%. It is sealed with a traditional cork closure.
James Suckling awarded this wine an impressive score of 98, noting its "purity of fruit" and describing it as "one of the finest Smith-Haut Lafittes I have tasted." He highlighted the wine's "plum and cherry aromas, as well as wet earth and spice," and commended its "incredibly polished and refined" finish.
Wine Enthusiast's Roger Voss gave it a score of 96, praising its "rich licorice and blackberry flavors" alongside its "structure and power." Voss also emphasized the wine's "fruitiness and acidity that offer poise" and assured its "long-term future," recommending it be enjoyed starting from 2026.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate rated it at 97 points, with Lisa Perrotti-Brown calling it "a stunning, singular style that is sure to turn heads." She described the wine as having "showy scents of crème de cassis, mocha, licorice, and cedar chest," and a "beautifully styled frame of finely grained tannins and bold freshness."
Jeff Leve of The Wine Cellar Insider also scored it 97, noting the wine's "deep, dark almost inky" color and its "exciting aromatic profile" that includes "smoke, licorice, wet forest, spice box, cherry, black raspberry, espresso, and dark chocolate." He highlighted the wine's "rich, deep, dense, concentrated, plush, and sensual" character, mentioning its potential to age gracefully for decades.
Decanter and Jeb Dunnuck both offered outstanding reviews, each giving it a score of 99. Decanter praised its "wonderful bouquet of red cherry, spring flowers, cedar, and liquorice," while Dunnuck described it as having "an incredible perfume of blackcurrants, blueberries, camphor, scorched earth, chocolate, and tobacco." Both reviewers emphasized the wine's long-term aging potential.
Wine Spectator's James Molesworth rated it 97, appreciating its "ripe and seductive" profile, with "cassis, plum puree, and blackberry compote flavors" and a "cashmere finish."
Vinous, through Neal Martin, scored it 96, admiring its "blackberry, bilberry, crushed stone and iris petals" on the nose, and its "crisp and lively finish."
Jane Anson and The Wine Independent's Lisa Perrotti-Brown also lauded the wine, each giving it 98 and 96 points respectively, noting its "autumnal and enticing" fruits and "seamless freshness."
Overall, the 2018 Smith-Haut-Lafitte is a compelling and highly celebrated wine, showing remarkable balance, depth, and aging potential.