Château Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge 2022 is hailed as one of the estate’s greatest modern vintages, rivaling legendary years like 2009 and 2010. Despite the historic heat and drought of the 2022 season, the wine is noted for its “remarkable poise” between richness and fresh energy. The 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte was cropped at 29hL/ha between 5 and 30 September, undergoing half the extraction, aged in 60% new oak for a planned 18 months.
Tasting Profile
- Aging: Aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, 60% of which are new and produced in the estate’s own cooperage.
- Nose: An expressive and complex bouquet of blackcurrant jelly, wild blackberry, and cherry, layered with notes of star anise, liquorice, tobacco, and graphite.
- Palate: Described as “regal and elegant,” it features a silky-smooth, almost “padded silk” texture. It balances powerful, concentrated dark fruit with high energy and fine-grained, powdery tannins.
- Finish: Exceptionally long and flavorful, often described as having a “saline” or “tobacco-tinged” finish with a refreshing mineral lift.
- Drinking Window: Best enjoyed between 2030 and 2055+ ; experts recommend at least 5–8 years of bottle age to allow the structure to mellow.
