2022 Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge, Pessac-Léognan

Looking at the Grand Vin, the 2022 Château Smith Haut Lafitte checks in as a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that was raised in 60% new French oak. Reminding me of a more elegant version of the 2010, it has a dense purple hue to go with a rich, powerful, full-bodied, sensationally complex nose of cassis and darker berries interwoven with woodsmoke, scorched earth, chocolate, and chalky minerality. Concentrated, deep, and layered on the palate with ripe, velvety tannins, it's a sensational, absolutely heavenly effort that will keep for 40-50 years. Along with the 2009, 2010, and 2020, this is one of the greatest wines to ever come from this address. Don't miss it.

Frankly, it’s a bit surprising that there isn’t more of a groundswell around this extraordinary, reference-point Smith Haut Lafitte—but all the better for collectors. You have a multiple 100-point wine from a singular vintage available at a remarkable first-tranche price. Jeb Dunnuck compares it to the 2009, 2010, and 2020 as one of the greatest wines ever produced by the estate, and after tasting it, there’s little room for doubt. Aromatically, it is nothing short of stunning, offering deep, layered fruits alongside notes of licorice and wet stone. On the palate, it initially shows itself as a classic Pessac powerhouse, driven by black currant, gravel, and dark chocolate. Yet with time in the glass, a deeper story unfolds: remarkable finesse and purity emerge, supported by unrelenting minerality, incredibly fine-grained tannins, and a profound sense of character and place. This is a wine that rewards patience and contemplation, inviting you to linger—and if you’re anything like me, you’ll find yourself increasingly infatuated with each successive sip. It’s often difficult to single out a “best” wine from an estate that operates at such a consistently elite level as Smith Haut Lafitte, but the 2022 stands apart as something truly special. It is a wine destined to thrill Bordeaux lovers for decades to come, and one that will undoubtedly earn its place among the estate’s modern legends.