As early as 1365, grapes have been grown on the property now known as Smith-Haut-Lafitte. Originally owned by the noble Bosq family, the estate was purchased in the 18th century by Scotsman George Smith. Its present name was taken from Smith and the Pessac region’s gravel plateau known as Lafitte.

In 1842, Mr. Duffour-Dubergier, mayor of Bordeaux and an enthusiastic winegrower, inherited Chateau Smith-Haut-Lafitte from his mother and brought the wine up to great growth status. The property changed hands again in 1958 when it was purchased by the Louis Eschenauer Company. After the Eschenaueur period came to an end, a great deal of money has been invested in the estate, particularly on the construction of a superb underground cellar holding over 1,000 barrels.

In 1990, Daniel Cathiard fell in love with the property and joined the list of prestigious owners, firmly intending to further enhance Smith-Haut-Lafitte's tradition of excellence. He combined the most modern winemaking techniques with age-old artisanal methods, including organic compost, small wooden vats, and lees-aging. Famous around the world for its wonderfully elegant red wine and the sophisticated bouquet of its white wine, Smith-Haut-Lafitte undoubtedly deserves the special care that is lavished on it.

The style of Smith-Haut-Lafitte red is classical, with a beautiful expression of Gunzian gravel terroir which gives it unique smoky notes. Elegant and structured, the red shows freshness, complexity, balance and richness.

The Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, harvested at full maturity and softly vinified to extract only the silkiest tannins, unveils its full potential after proper aging. The other grape varieties of the vineyard, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, add their own aromas and participate in the harmony of a great Cru Classe de Graves.

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.