2022 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte 'Les Hauts de Smith' Blanc Pessac-Leognan
Quick Description
- "Bright and Lively White". ~94 JS
- "Gorgeous Mix of the Exuberance of the Year"~92 VM
- "A New Paradigm for Bordeaux" ~ 95 Point Vintage WS
- Free Shipping on 12 or More Bottles
About the Wine
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is a Grand Cru Classified Château from Graves. The story of this estate dates back to the 14th century when George Smith, a Scottish wine businessman, acquired the estate and renamed it after him.
The property passed through the hands of different owns, but it was in 1990, with the acquisition of Daniel and Florence Cathiard, that this winery finally exploit its potential, and became synonymous with premium, high-quality wines in Bordeaux, and as Wine Spectator said, “rejuvenated into one of Bordeaux’s elite properties.”
The Cathiard family are wine legends in the business. They own 5 different Châteaux in Bordeaux and recently acquired Flora Springs in Napa Valley. They say their "philosophy can be summed up in one sentence: to do everything possible to make each vintage of red and white wine worthy of its magnificent terroir.”
Since 1990, the 200-acre vineyard has been managed under sustainable and organic practices. In 2019, the estate was organically certified and started to implement biodynamic viticulture.
Les Hauts de Smith Blanc is the second wine of Château Smith Haut Lafitte. Known for its exceptional red wines, the estate also crafts extraordinary white wines, with Les Hauts de Smith Blanc standing as a more accessible expression of the château's refined craftsmanship.
The estate's vineyards are situated on the gravelly soils of the Graves Günziennes plateau, which is renowned for its ability to produce wines with remarkable minerality and complexity. The unique terroir, along with careful vineyard management, enables the cultivation of 100% Sauvignon Blanc for this cuvée, which thrives in the region's warm, sunny climate tempered by cooling breezes from the nearby Garonne River.
Les Hauts de Smith Blanc offers an exceptional balance of succulent fruit, fresh acidity, and elegance, making it a standout wine in the Pessac-Léognan region, and a perfect companion for a wide variety of seafood, fresh salads, or simply enjoyed on its own.
2022 was an extraordinary vintage for Bordeaux, it was blessed with a 95 pt review by Wine Spectator who said: "A new paradigm for Bordeaux. Very aromatic and sleek, fresh and pure in feel, with all major varietals performing well; far more consistent than the 2018-2020 trio."
Aging: Aged in 50% new French oak barrels.
Tasting Notes
100% Sauvignon Blanc. A bright and lively Pessac-Léognan with aromas of sliced lemons, grapefruit, white pear, and green apple. The palate is medium-bodied and fresh, offering a juicy core of peach, apricot, and a touch of minty citrus. Lively acidity and a stony, herbal finish bring a perfect balance of freshness and vibrancy, with subtle oak influence adding richness without overpowering the fruit character. This is a succulent, mouthwatering wine with a crisp, refreshing quality, ideal for early drinking.
Critical Reviews
A bright and lively white with sliced lemons and grapefruit. Medium body with lovely energy and zingy acidity. 100% sauvignon blanc. ~94 James Suckling
White pear, green apples crisp and fresh on the nose, lively aromatics. Cool and well balanced, smooth and sharp with a juicy core of peach, apricot and green apple. This has a lovely weight in the mouth with intensity of fruit and fresh acidities. Mouthwatering and vibrant, really well worked and round, not long but super fresh at the end. Good balance and very pleasing. Easy to understand and great for drinking now with succulence and freshness all the way. Stony, fresh, herbal aromatics. 3.2pH 50/ new oak barrels. ~92 Decanter
Light yellow-green, silver reflections. An aromatic bouquet of fine white tropical fruit, hints of grapefruit zest and gooseberries. Juicy, passion fruit, fresh acidity, lemony, fine pear touch on the finish, a single varietal Sauvignon Blanc, versatile. ~92 Falstaff
The 2022 Les Hauts de Smith Blanc (Sauvignon Blanc) is terrific. It offers a gorgeous mix of the exuberance of the year but tempered by picking that started very early, in mid-August. Apricot, mint, tangerine oil, hazelnut and passionfruit lend notable exuberance and textural richness, but there’s plenty of energy too. ~92 Vinous Media
This is a wine which is always pretty exuberant and in 2022 is full of apricot pit, nectarine, pink grapeful and green apple. Very juicy, very easy to love. Fabien Teitgen technical director. Harvest August 18 to September 2. 50% new oak. ~92 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
All Sauvignon, the 2022 Les Hauts De Smith Blanc is a juicy, up-front, medium-bodied effort displaying lots of ripe lemon, pineapple, and floral aromatics. It's balanced, pure, and perfect for drinking on release and over the following couple of years. ~91 Jeb Dunnuck
Entirely devoted to Sauvignon Blanc, the 2022 Les Hauts de Smith Blanc offers up aromas of pear, peach and lime. Medium to full-bodied, juicy and sappy, it’s succulent with a minty citrus finish. ~90 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
2022 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte 'Les Hauts de Smith' Blanc Pessac-Leognan
- "Bright and Lively White". ~94 JS
- "Gorgeous Mix of the Exuberance of the Year"~92 VM
- "A New Paradigm for Bordeaux" ~ 95 Point Vintage WS
- Free Shipping on 12 or More Bottles
About the Wine
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is a Grand Cru Classified Château from Graves. The story of this estate dates back to the 14th century when George Smith, a Scottish wine businessman, acquired the estate and renamed it after him.
The property passed through the hands of different owns, but it was in 1990, with the acquisition of Daniel and Florence Cathiard, that this winery finally exploit its potential, and became synonymous with premium, high-quality wines in Bordeaux, and as Wine Spectator said, “rejuvenated into one of Bordeaux’s elite properties.”
The Cathiard family are wine legends in the business. They own 5 different Châteaux in Bordeaux and recently acquired Flora Springs in Napa Valley. They say their "philosophy can be summed up in one sentence: to do everything possible to make each vintage of red and white wine worthy of its magnificent terroir.”
Since 1990, the 200-acre vineyard has been managed under sustainable and organic practices. In 2019, the estate was organically certified and started to implement biodynamic viticulture.
Les Hauts de Smith Blanc is the second wine of Château Smith Haut Lafitte. Known for its exceptional red wines, the estate also crafts extraordinary white wines, with Les Hauts de Smith Blanc standing as a more accessible expression of the château's refined craftsmanship.
The estate's vineyards are situated on the gravelly soils of the Graves Günziennes plateau, which is renowned for its ability to produce wines with remarkable minerality and complexity. The unique terroir, along with careful vineyard management, enables the cultivation of 100% Sauvignon Blanc for this cuvée, which thrives in the region's warm, sunny climate tempered by cooling breezes from the nearby Garonne River.
Les Hauts de Smith Blanc offers an exceptional balance of succulent fruit, fresh acidity, and elegance, making it a standout wine in the Pessac-Léognan region, and a perfect companion for a wide variety of seafood, fresh salads, or simply enjoyed on its own.
2022 was an extraordinary vintage for Bordeaux, it was blessed with a 95 pt review by Wine Spectator who said: "A new paradigm for Bordeaux. Very aromatic and sleek, fresh and pure in feel, with all major varietals performing well; far more consistent than the 2018-2020 trio."
Aging: Aged in 50% new French oak barrels.
Tasting Notes
100% Sauvignon Blanc. A bright and lively Pessac-Léognan with aromas of sliced lemons, grapefruit, white pear, and green apple. The palate is medium-bodied and fresh, offering a juicy core of peach, apricot, and a touch of minty citrus. Lively acidity and a stony, herbal finish bring a perfect balance of freshness and vibrancy, with subtle oak influence adding richness without overpowering the fruit character. This is a succulent, mouthwatering wine with a crisp, refreshing quality, ideal for early drinking.
Critical Reviews
A bright and lively white with sliced lemons and grapefruit. Medium body with lovely energy and zingy acidity. 100% sauvignon blanc. ~94 James Suckling
White pear, green apples crisp and fresh on the nose, lively aromatics. Cool and well balanced, smooth and sharp with a juicy core of peach, apricot and green apple. This has a lovely weight in the mouth with intensity of fruit and fresh acidities. Mouthwatering and vibrant, really well worked and round, not long but super fresh at the end. Good balance and very pleasing. Easy to understand and great for drinking now with succulence and freshness all the way. Stony, fresh, herbal aromatics. 3.2pH 50/ new oak barrels. ~92 Decanter
Light yellow-green, silver reflections. An aromatic bouquet of fine white tropical fruit, hints of grapefruit zest and gooseberries. Juicy, passion fruit, fresh acidity, lemony, fine pear touch on the finish, a single varietal Sauvignon Blanc, versatile. ~92 Falstaff
The 2022 Les Hauts de Smith Blanc (Sauvignon Blanc) is terrific. It offers a gorgeous mix of the exuberance of the year but tempered by picking that started very early, in mid-August. Apricot, mint, tangerine oil, hazelnut and passionfruit lend notable exuberance and textural richness, but there’s plenty of energy too. ~92 Vinous Media
This is a wine which is always pretty exuberant and in 2022 is full of apricot pit, nectarine, pink grapeful and green apple. Very juicy, very easy to love. Fabien Teitgen technical director. Harvest August 18 to September 2. 50% new oak. ~92 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
All Sauvignon, the 2022 Les Hauts De Smith Blanc is a juicy, up-front, medium-bodied effort displaying lots of ripe lemon, pineapple, and floral aromatics. It's balanced, pure, and perfect for drinking on release and over the following couple of years. ~91 Jeb Dunnuck
Entirely devoted to Sauvignon Blanc, the 2022 Les Hauts de Smith Blanc offers up aromas of pear, peach and lime. Medium to full-bodied, juicy and sappy, it’s succulent with a minty citrus finish. ~90 Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate
Food Pairing
Cheese
Chicken
Duck
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