Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc, Pessac Léognan
Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc, Pessac Léognan, 2022


Destination

vintage


En primeur

En Primeur
The following wines are either En Primeur or Ex-Chateau and currently abroad awaiting shipment to the UK. These wines are subject to final confirmation from the Justerini & Brooks team.


2022

6x75cl

EP

£719.50



Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc, Pessac Léognan, 2022

2022

Justerini & Brooks Tasting note

Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc, Pessac Léognan, 2022

Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc, tasted En Primeur, offers a more muscular, impactful interpretation of the vintage, as it exudes grassy citrus and tropical notes of pineapple and passion fruit. Quite solid and firm on the palate, those 60-80 year old vines make their presence felt. It may need a little time to unwind, or perhaps is more clearly a wine for the table, the benefit of the doubt suggests that these wines do come good with time. 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Semillon and 5% Semillon Gris (which imparts an extra kick of creaminess in the wine, we are told). Raised in 50% new oak.

ABV:
13%
96/100
Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

This has structure and depth, serious tension, with slate, vibrant citrus, graphite, white pear, apricot, aniseed, liquorice, star anise, creamy but with a slice of steel that cuts through it. Brilliant quality, this is a standout white. Harvest August 18 to September 2. 50% new oak. Technical director Fabien Teitgen.
Date Reviewed:
05/2023
93-95/100
Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Independent

The 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is a blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Semillon, and 5% Sauvignon Gris, with a yield of 24 hl/ha and aging in 50% new oak. It bursts from the glass with bold notions of Bosc pears, grapefruit oil, and white peaches, followed by wafts of coriander seed, sea spray, and wet pebbles. The medium-bodied palate is charged with a lively backbone, supporting the generous stone fruit and pear flavors, finishing long and chalky.
Date Reviewed:
05/2023
94-96/100
Neal Martin, Vinous

The 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is matured in 50% new oak for a planned 12 months, removed from barrel after 9 months with three months in vat after blending. It has a very perfumed nose with yellow plums, jasmine, walnut and touches of fennel. The palate is medium-bodied with fine depth and acidity. Waxy in texture, with hazelnut and white pepper toward the saline, almost creamy finish.
Date Reviewed:
05/2023

specifications

style:


Allergen Information:
This product may contain sulphites. Full allergen information is available upon request, please call our Customer Relations Team on +44 (0)20 7484 6430.


Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Daniel and Florence Cathiard have taken this Pessac estate to the next level. The wines here outshine many of the top names from the more fashionable communes and are challenging the likes of Haut Bailly, La Mission and even Haut Brion for supremacy in the Graves. Their 2009 received a perfect 100 points from Robert Parker and we think the 2010 is even better. The style is pure seductive fruit and a silky texture; the quality is exceptional. Kudos to Daniel and Florence for turning this good, but slightly underperforming estate into one of the finest in Pessac Leognan.

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