Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2021 – Pessac-Léognan Grand Cru Classé de Graves

The nose is fruity, fresh, elegant and reveals a lovely multi-layered, fine/racy texture and some depth. There are notes of violet, boysenberry and more slightly raspberry, fairly ripe red currant, blueberry combined with hints of star anise, caramelised almond, a discreet hint of sweet blond tobacco and a subtle hint of iodine, vanilla. The palate is fruity and offers juiciness, suavity, a nice definition, an acidic backbone, tension, accuracy, a discreet tightness/restraint. On the palate this wine expresses boysenberry, juicy/pulpy raspberry and more lightly blueberry notes combined with hints of chocolate, liquorice as well as a subtle sapiness, racy minerality, a discreet hint of bergamot, bourbon vanilla, graphite (in the background). Good length. Nice sapidity and positive bitterness on the finish/persistence. Some chewiness on the finish/persistence.