Smith-Haut-Lafitte Pessac-Léognan 2012

95 points Robert Parker: "The opaque bluish-purple 2012 Smith Haut Lafite offers up notes of licorice, graphite, blueberry and blackberry fruit, a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, stunningly ripe, velvety tannins and a long, long finish. This is another sensational effort from the Cathiards that is perfectly balanced, complex, super-rich and pure. Drink it over the next 20-25 years. Drink: 2015-2040. (Apr 2015)"

95 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "A dark, sensual wine, the 2012 Smith Haut Lafitte boasts marvelous depth and textural richness. Dark red stone fruits, leather, smoke, tobacco, gravel and herbs are laced together in an expansive wine endowed with terrific purity. The tannins are going to need at least a few years to soften, but there is clearly quite a bit to look forward to. Drink: 2022-2042. (Jan 2016)"

95 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "The 2012 Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge is medium to deep garnet-purple colored. It sashays out with flamboyant scents of boysenberries, blackberry preserves, and redcurrant jelly, plus hints of cardamom, cigar box, and fragrant earth. Medium to full-bodied, elegant, and with seamless freshness, it has provocative black and red berry flavors and minerally sparks on the long, plush finish. Alcohol 14%. Drink: 2022-2042. (2/16/23)"

95 points James Suckling: "Aromas of cream, cooked apples and pears follow through to a full body with toasted-oak, cream and vanilla character buttressed by plenty of fruit. So much peach and apricot character. This a bright and flamboyant wine for the vintage. One of the best dry whites. Drink or hold. (2/17/15)"

94 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot). At this point Smith Haut-Lafittte was leaping up in renown after their excellent 2009 and 2010 vintages, and they deliver here glamour and poise and depth of expression - particularly impressive in a vintage where that wasn't a given. Tannins still firm at this point, you can drink it now but it will soften further over the next two to three years. Great quality poise and character. Drink: 2022-2042. (3/3/22)"

94 points Neal Martin (Vinous): "The 2012 Smith Haut Lafitte has an intense, well-defined and quite complex bouquet with blackberry, briary and cigar humidor scents. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, fine acidity, cohesive and poised with quite a firm grip towards the finish. This is another classy Pessac-Léognan and a wonderful example from Pessac-Léognan that might well be leading the pack at this stage. Bon vin. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting. Drink: 2022-2040. (Sep 2022)"

94 points Wine Spectator: "Layered fig, boysenberry and blackberry pâte de fruit notes are buttressed by ample, yet polished and integrated, ganache-coated tannins, while accents of black tea, ganache and tar course underneath. A really gorgeous display of fruit, showing terroir and cut on the finish. Best from 2018 through 2027. (3/31/15)"

94 points Sebastian Payne, MW (Decanter): "A great example of good modern winemaking with instantly appealing fresh, ripe fruit attack and sweet spicy flavour. The freshness will sustain this well, if not add extra complexity – by this point, more than 20 years of intelligent investment by owners Daniel and Florence Cathiard had paid off. Drinking Window: 2022-2030. (3/3/22)"

94 points/'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "This dark and dense wine is closed, with its tannins very dominant. It's a solid, dark wine intense with juicy acidity, firm dry structure and a rich core. This is a magnificent wine for serious aging, with all the elements coming strongly into play. Drink from 2022. (Apr 2015)"

94 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "Medium/full bodied, with an earthy, truffle, smoky, espresso, blackberry, plum and dark cherry filled nose. Soft, plush and polished, the ripe, sweet fruits linger on your palate. (Mar 2015)"