A firm and focused young red with full body, firm and silky textured tannins and a bright and fresh finish. Persistent and precise. Second wine of Smith Haut-Lafitte.

The 2015 Le Petit Haut Lafitte is another terrific wine from Smith Haut Lafitte. Here, Cabernet Sauvignon speaks with authority. Black cherry, leather, earth, licorice and grilled herbs are all laced together, but it is the wine's pure power and structure that stand out most. Readers should plan on cellaring the 2015 for at least a few years, as it is far from an easygoing second wine. vinous.com, February 2018

The 2015 Le Petit Haut Lafitte is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. It has an intriguing bouquet, touches of shellfish, an estuarine element infiltrating the lifted black fruit, the new oak (20%) cunningly disguised. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. There is more breeding here than the Les Hauts de Smith, more precision and mineralité conveyed by the finish. A well-crafted Pessac-Léognan, give this a couple of years in bottle and you will have a lovely wine on your hands.

Polished, with dark currant and blackberry fruit inlaid with ample but integrated toast, weaving through a tobacco-edged finish. Solid.