Wine Advisor
Le Petit Haut Lafitte 2020
View analysis
Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: William Kelley
More serious and structured than the Hauts de Smit, reflecting the larger proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, the 2020 Le Petit Haut Lafitte reveals aromas of cassis, plums, bay leaf and smoke, followed by a medium to full-bodied, layered and incisive palate framed by youthfully chalky tannins.
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, aging in 30% new barriques, the 2020 Le Petit Haut Lafitte has a deep garnet-purple color, rolling out of the glass with alluring scents of blackberry preserves, Black Forest cake and warm cassis, plus wafts of red roses and cinnamon toast with a hint of dried mint. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers plush tannins and soft acidity to support the generous, juicy black fruits, finishing on a lingering minty note.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2020 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte is a gorgeous second wine. Dark cherry, grilled herbs, menthol, licorice, plum, spice and tobacco infuse the 2020 with striking aromatic nuance. Cabernet Sauvignon drives the blend, and that is very much in evidence in the wine's flavor profile and overall structure. There's terrific depth and density here, not to mention tons of character.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2020 Le Petit Haut Lafitte captures all the pedigree of the Grand Vin, but naturally in a more approachable style. Graphite, lavender, spice, menthol, blackberry jam and chocolate all saturate the palate. Savory, deep and exquisitely layered, the 2020 has it all. It's a great example of how compelling the best second wines are today. I have no doubt Le Petit Haut Lafitte is a more complete wine than some Grand Vins of previous generations.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2020 Le Petit Haut Lafitte has held on to its Pomerol-like bouquet with blackberry, boysenberry, chalk and light sous-bois scents. Nicely focused. The palate is well balanced with quite firm, edgy tannins, touches of licorice infusing the black fruit, a little austere towards the finish though with adequate freshness. Fine.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2020 Le Petit Haut Lafitte has an intriguing bouquet of blackberry, truffle and light earthy scents, almost Pomerol in style. The palate is medium-bodied with soft tannins and fine acidity, lightly peppered and leading to a smooth finish that just needs a little more grip. Having said that, there is commendable salinity and this should drink well for a decade.
About the Producer
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is located in the village of Martillac in the Pessac-Leognan production area south of Bordeaux, France. As early as 1365, the famous Bosq family had been planting grapes here. This gravelly land was called "Lafitte", which means "higher hill".Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is located in Pessac-Leognan, a boutique production area in Graves with excellent terroir conditions. The winery's vineyards cover a total area of 78 hectares. The soil in the garden is mainly gravel soil, and is also mixed with sand, silica soil, limestone and clay. This soil has good drainage and the poor soil allows the grapevines to take root downwards for harvest. moisture and nutrients; in addition, gravel can reflect sunlight and store heat, which can help grapes ripen better. In 1990, Daniel Cathiard, a former French national team skier, became the owner of the winery, combining modern advanced technology with traditional winemaking methods. Since 1992, the winery has stopped using chemical herbicides and has adopted biodynamic methods to grow grapes. As the second wine of Smith Haut Lafitte, Le Petit Haut Lafitte’s brilliance is not overshadowed by the full score of the flagship wine. The grapes and brewing techniques used in the flagship wine are exactly the same, but due to the different brewing proportions, the style is more solid and rich than the flagship wine.
