2023 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc Pessac-Leognan
Quick Description
- "Another Exceptional Vintage for Smith-Haut-Lafite Blanc" ~98 JS
- "It’s Probably the White of the Vintage" ~97 JD
- "One of Bordeaux’s Elite Properties" ~Wine Spectator
- Free Shipping on 12 or More Bottles
2023 Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc Pessac-Leognan
- "Another Exceptional Vintage for Smith-Haut-Lafite Blanc" ~98 JS
- "It’s Probably the White of the Vintage" ~97 JD
- "One of Bordeaux’s Elite Properties" ~Wine Spectator
- 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.
Tasting Notes
90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris and 5% Semillon.
Critical Reviews
Another exceptional vintage for Smith-Haut-Lafite Blanc. It’s so complex and structured, offering a palate that feels similar to the texture of a red wine with a velvety tannin structure. There’s a lot going on here. Spice, crushed seashell and citrus blossom. Salty, too. Weightless and so long. 90% sauvignon blanc, 5% sauvignon gris and 5% semillon. ~98 James Suckling
Distinctive as ever, right at the top of what Pessac Léognan Blanc can deliver. Structured, fleshy white peach and pear, waves of salted cracker and sage, creamy texture, great length, just a brilliant wine. A buy. ~98 Jane Anson, Inside bordeaux
The 2023 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc was picked from August 23 to September 9 at 36hL/ha and matured in 50% new oak. It has a reticent bouquet at first, requiring a few swirls of the glass to reveal touches of orange pith, peach skin, wild fennel and light pressed white flower scents. The palate is very well balanced with a lovely creamy texture, counterbalanced by the taut line of acidity. Very poised and focused, it's somehow almost Corton-Charlemagne-inspired on the finish (perhaps due to the umami). This is a seriously fine white Pessac-Léognan. ~97 Vinous Media
One of the bigger, richer wines in the vintage, the light gold-hued 2023 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc offers up a killer nose of orange blossom, honeyed citrus, toast, spice, and minty flowers. It's medium to full-bodied and has a richly textured, layered mouthfeel, bright acidity, and a great finish. It's probably the white of the vintage. ~97 Jeb Dunnuck
Aromas of white fruits, crisp orchard fruits, spices, smoke, spring flowers and pear introduce the 2023 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc, a medium to full-bodied, layered and textured wine with a fleshy core of fruit and racy acids, concluding with a mineral, fresh and long finish highlighted by delicate notes of thyme and garrigue. Comprising 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sémillon and 5% Sauvignon Gris and matured in 50% new oak, this blend is among the finest white wines produced at this address. ~96 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Strong aromatics, on the expressive side with herbal accents, spiced wood, green apple, quince, apricot, mango, peach honeycomb and elderflower. Very floral. Fresh and expansive, mineral and direct, but a good body full of fruit, freshness and honey characters. Definitely more opulent and exotic than the others in the range with hints of tropical fruit - pineapple and mango but also some lovely bitterness which adds tension to balance it out. A good combination, more vibrancy and energy than in previous years. Succulent and sumptuous with salinity. Very good and very easy to drink. Ageing 50% new oak. ~96 Decanter
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