The style of Smith-Haut-Lafitte red is classical, with a beautiful expression of Gunzian gravel terroir which gives it unique smoky notes. Elegant and structured, the red shows freshness, complexity, balance and richness.

The Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, harvested at full maturity and softly vinified to extract only the silkiest tannins, unveils its full potential after proper aging. The other grape varieties of the vineyard, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, add their own aromas and participate in the harmony of a great Cru Classe de Graves.

The 2017 Smith-Haut-Lafitte is a Bordeaux blend composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. Originating from the Pessac Leognan sub-region in Bordeaux, France, this wine is aged for 16 months in 60% new French oak and boasts an alcohol content of 14.0%.

Jeb Dunnuck describes this wine as "a beauty" with "rocking levels of cassis and red currant fruits interwoven with hints of dried herbs, salty minerality, subtle oak, and crushed violets." He praises its concentration and full-bodied nature, noting its ripe tannins and great mid-palate. Dunnuck suggests that this wine will be beautiful in just 3-4 years and can age effortlessly for three decades. He commends winemaker Fabien Teitgen for a "brilliant effort in the vintage."

James Suckling awarded the wine 97 points, highlighting the "wonderful depth of fruit" with flavors of blackberries, wet earth, mushrooms, dark chocolate, and violets. Suckling emphasizes its full-bodied, tight, and poised nature with "polished and compressed tannins," suggesting it is drinkable now but will be better in 2022.

Antonio Galloni of Vinous also gave the wine a 97-point rating, describing it as "fantastic" and "sumptuous" with "inky blue and purplish fruit, chocolate, licorice, menthol, sage, and lavender." He notes its striking layers of depth and complexity, calling it "flat-out gorgeous" and one of the wines of the year.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate rates it 97+ points, describing it as having "bold expressions of warm redcurrants, baked blackberries, and crème de cassis with hints of spice cake, dried roses, underbrush, and pencil lead." The palate is noted for its "densely packed red and black fruits" and "wonderfully ripe, rounded tannins."

Other reviewers including Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Decanter, and Jane Anson, have all given the wine high marks, ranging from 95 to 97 points. Their reviews highlight the wine's intense blackberry and raspberry flavors, elegant and powerful structure, silky texture, and compelling aromatic structure.

Overall, the 2017 Smith-Haut-Lafitte is a well-regarded wine with a strong potential for aging, showcasing the precision and finesse of its winemaking team.