Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte Red 2021

Product info about Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte Red 2021

Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte Red 2021 is a dry red wine from Château Smith Haut Lafitte in Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux. It comes from the same appellation as the château's Grand Vin, but is made from young vines, with an average vine age of 11 years for this vintage. That gives the wine a clear identity: rooted in a serious Bordeaux estate, yet with a lively, more immediate expression.

The 2021 blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Cabernet Sauvignon shapes the wine with freshness, structure and a firm line, while Merlot adds riper fruit and softness. The grapes are double sorted, before and after destemming, then handled without crushing and moved by gravity to the vats. Ageing takes place for 14 months in barriques, 20% of them new, with the château noting that the barrels are made in its own cooperage.

There is a strong sense of place behind the wine. The vineyard sits on a continuous Günz gravel plateau in Pessac-Léognan and is farmed organically and biodynamically. At Drankenshop Broekmans, this is the kind of Bordeaux we like to present when someone is looking for a bottle with real estate pedigree, careful winemaking and a 2021 character built more around tension and precision than weight.

The vintage also attracted positive critical attention, with several ratings around 91 to 93 points and 2 stars in the Guide Hachette des Vins 2025, where it was described as a 'vin remarquable'. With availability now limited, it is a bottle to choose deliberately, whether for the table or for a Bordeaux-focused selection.

In the glass, Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte 2021 shows a very dark red colour, almost black, with bluish reflections. The aroma is built around fresh red and black fruit: cassis, dark berries, redcurrant, cherry, plum and blackberry, followed by star anise, liquorice, tobacco leaf and white pepper.

On the palate it is medium to light-medium in body, with a clear Cabernet Sauvignon signature. Fine, silky tannins provide structure, while freshness and tension keep the wine focused. Notes of graphite, pencil lead, slate and dark chocolate add depth to the fruit, with occasional floral hints of violet or rose.

The finish remains fresh and precise, with spice, a mineral line and a light saline touch. Serving around 16 to 18 °C suits the style, and a brief period of aeration can help the aromas unfold.