CHATEAU SMITH HAUT LAFITTE Blanc Grand Cru Classe de Graves, AOC Pessac-Leognan 2022 Bottle BIO/ORG

Description

The 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is a remarkable wine celebrated for its exceptional quality, receiving 98 points from James Suckling for its vibrant notes of sliced apples, pears, and lemon blossoms, culminating in an impressive finish of white pepper and crushed sea salt. Wine Enthusiast echoed this sentiment with 98 points, praising its balance of freshness and richness, especially given the dry growing conditions. Decanter awarded it 96 points, highlighting its floral, fruity aromas and well-balanced mouthfeel, while Vinous, also granting 96 points, noted its creamy texture and striking balance. The Wine Advocate rated it 95 points for its rich, concentrated profile, and Jancis Robinson acknowledged its complexity and fresh fruit character, underlining its excellent ageing potential.

*****

JAMES SUCKLING 98 points
The sliced apples and pears with lemon blossoms and hints of dried pineapple and flint follow through to a medium body with brightness and energy. The finish is impressive with white pepper, crushed sea salt and spice. Really great finish here. All about energy. 90% sauvignon blanc, 5% semillon and 5% sauvignon gris. Better after 2028 but already a joy to taste.

WINE ENTHUSIAST 98 points
97-99 Barrel sample. The wine is dominated by fine Sauvignon Blanc. It has a marvelous poise between great freshness and richness, which is especially impressive given it's from a dry year. This is a powerful wine, a great success given the growing conditions. — Roger Voss

DECANTER 96 points
Drinking Window: 2023 - 2037
Lovely perfumed notes, floral, intensely fruity with vanilla, elderflower, green apple, pear, peach and white blossom, expressive and aromatic. Succulent and juicy straight away, a real hit of citrus juice, sharp and intense, so lively and yet the texture is quite filling giving a well balanced mouthfeel. Calm but layered, you feel the precision of each aspect, the soft toasted notes, bitter grapefruit and lemon peel, crisp green apple and mineral salinity - each is carefully presented. It’s rich and has concentration but keeps the focus delivering a supremely drinkable and nuanced wine. I love the mineral tang and long length. You get the feeling of a large, warm vintage but the acidity and focus is there, so it doesn't end heavy. Lots to like here and one of the best whites of 2022. 3.2pH." - Georgina Hindle Apr 23

VINOUS 96 points
The 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is superb. What a wine. Rich, ample and creamy, with striking balance, the 2022 dazzles from start to finish. Ripe pear, tangerine peel, chamomile, mint and a kiss of spice all meld together in a stunning Blanc that belies the warm, dry year. Plush, generous contours wrap it all together in style. The balance here is magnificent. - Antonio Galloni

THE WINE ADVOCATE 95 points
Reviewed by: Yohan Castaing
Drink Date: 2028 - 2040
The 2022 Blanc from Smith Haut Lafitte is an impressive effort this year, evoking aromas of white fruits, pear, white peach, spices and spring flowers. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered, it's rich and concentrated with ripe acids enhanced by beautiful, chalky dry extracts, culminating in a long, saline and lovely oaky finish. This white wine always rewards patience and marries tension and charm to pleasing effect.

JANCIS ROBINSON 17 points
Complex aroma of oak (cedary spice) and vibrant fresh fruit. Creamy, generous but overall with excellent freshness, especially in this vintage. Deep, gently chewy texture, long. Tension suggests good ageing potential. (JH)