Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte 2023

A preview of what the Grand Vin will offer; clear and pure, radiant fruit, silky tannins, incredibly crisp, with plenty of freshness and precision, a juicy finish. A dancing, irresistibly seductive wine.

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot. Cask sample. Plenty of lift and freshness, the Cabernet offering dark-fruit and minty notes. Smooth attack then light, grainy tannins that leave a powdery finish. Already quite open and appealing. (JL)

Flowers, chocolate, and cherry aromas pop in the perfume. The medium-bodied palate is loaded with elegant, fresh, sweet, ripe blackberries, black currants, and black cherries with nuances of smoke, espresso, chocolate, licorice, and marine influences that pop up in the back of the finish, adding more length, and vibrancy. The wine blends 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Drink from 2026-2040.

Lots of crayon, graphite, liquorice, iris, pencil lead, squid ink, very much in the signature of this wine, structured yet gentle, with grilled cumin spices, cold ash. It's fairly serious right now, but with momentum and energy, and well defined black fruits that will give a ton of pleasure within a few years, or hold on for a good decade or more. Excellent quality. Fabien Teitgen technical director, September 8 to October 5. 25% new oak.

Nuances of blackcurrant and spices highlight the Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes up 60% of the blend. Juicy on the attack, the wine is lively and fresh. The tannins give it well-framed power, while the acidity provides an unbroken freshness from the attack through to the finish. A flavoursome, inviting wine to enjoy both young and with a bit of age.