Château Smith Haut-Lafitte Pessac Léognan Cru Classé de Graves 2018

Smith Haut-Lafitte and Cos d’Estournel are the only two wines here that I have chosen to highlight in the top 100 for both their red and white bottles. For SHL in particular, it seemed crazy to suggest wines that sum up the best of the vintage without drawing your attention to both colours. This one, with its unfussy yet luxurious feel, is really one to savour. The fruits are autumnal and enticing, textured raspberry and black cherry, with liqourice, slate, olive tapenade, smoked earth and cocoa bean sat against fresh acidities that add tension and length. 60% new oak. Harvest 18 September to 10 October. Last year of organic conversion, certified 2019.