CHATEAU SMITH HAUT LAFITTE Blanc Grand Cru Classe de Graves, AOC Pessac-Leognan 2021 Bottle BIO/ORG

Description

Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte has transformed over the past decade from an underachiever to a leading estate in the Graves region. Acquired in 1990 by former Olympic skiing champion Daniel Cathiard, the estate underwent significant changes, reducing chemical use and modernising winemaking facilities. The 55 hectares of vineyards produce a red blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Merlot (35%), and Cabernet Franc (10%), fermented in stainless steel and matured in oak barrels for 15-18 months. The 2021 Blanc has received high praise, earning 99 points from James Suckling for its complex nose of honey and citrus, 95 points from The Wine Advocate for its purity, and 98 points from Vinous for its creamy character, showcasing the estate's excellence in producing exceptional white wines.

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Château Smith-Haut-Lafite has been transformed during the last decade from being a perennial underachiever to being one of the leading estates in the Graves region.

For many years it was owned by the Bordeaux négociant Eschenauer - in 1990 it was bought by former Olympic skiing champion, Daniel Cathiard. He cut down on the amount of chemicals and herbicides used in the vineyards, and fully modernised the winemaking facilities. The proportion of new oak barrels used in the maturation process was increased and a trio of eminent oenologists (including the ubiquitous Michel Rolland) were hired as consultants.

The 55 hectares of vineyards are located on a gravel ridge to the east of Château Haut-Bailly. The red wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (55%), Merlot (35%) and Cabernet Franc (10%). The grapes are fermented in stainless steel vats and the wine is then matured in oak barrels (50% new) for 15-18 months. The wines are bottled unfined and unfiltered.

JAMES SUCKLING 99 points
This has so much blossom honey and white flowers with limes and other citrus. Stone and mineral undertones. Subtle passion fruit. A truly complex and great nose. Full-bodied and compact with fruit, phenolics and fresh acidity. Just a touch of sea salt. Very long and persistent. If you close your eyes, it’s like a great red wine. One of the best whites ever to come from here. 90% sauvignon blanc, 5% semillon, 5% sauvignon gris. From organically grown grapes. Drink or hold.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 95 points
Reviewed by: Yohan Castaing
Drink Date: 2023 - 2040
The 2021 Blanc has developed gracefully since en primeur, delivering attractive aromas of ripe pear, peach, lime tree leaves, verbena and mint intertwined with mineral, smoky nuances. Medium to full-bodied, satiny and concentrated, with a broad attack and fleshy mid-palate, it exhibits compelling purity and tension, concluding with a saline, mint-inflected finish. It has the potential to improve in the cellar over the next decade or more.

VINOUS 98 points
The 2021 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is the white wine of the vintage, hands down. Creamy and layered, the 2021 offers all the qualities that make whites off this site so compelling, Nothing is out of place. It's aromatic yet deep, fresh yet layered. Utterly mind-bending right out of the gate, this superb white hits all the right notes. Slate, crushed rocks, mint and white pepper linger. Magnifique! - Antonio Galloni

DECANTER 96 points
Toasted oak, lanolin, honeyed caramel, lemon zest and red apple peel on both the nose and palate. This has an unctuosity, a richness to the texture giving beautiful honeyed lemon touches with Semillon fatness and intensity from the Sauvignon. It’s sleeping a little right now, feels as if it’s calm and quiet, not yet ready to show the world what it’s about but you do get a precision and detail along the edges, a real sculpting of elements. I love the presentation, such a success for the vintage, excellent winemaking on show. It's the soft vibration you get as the flavours travel from start to finish that is so promising - a lot of life and immense enjoyment to come from this. Drinking Window 2025 - 2046 - Tasted by Georgina Hindle(at Bordeaux, 01 Apr 2022)