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| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 94.3 pts. and median of 94 pts. in 29 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by chugwine on 3/13/2024 & rated 94 points: This is a wine you drink at Rusty Pelican in Miami at 11AM for brunch while watching Jeff Bezos's yacht gingerly sail by, you could smash these bottle after bottle all day long, so good. Still a little early, needs time in the bottle, got a bunch of salted popcorn still, probably a sign of the 50% new oak, but the mouthfeel is absolutely incredible, jumping but also a full mouth coating begging you to come back for more. I like this better than same vintage Ygrec. Snag some if you can (641 views) | | | Tasted by Alexander Smith on 1/7/2024 & rated 97 points: An incredibly complex, complete and textured wine. It is difficult to know at which point through the life I prefer Bordeaux Whites, but even at this stage it is more than accessible and enjoyable.
Explosive aromas of ripe white nectarines, asian pear, topical notes, fresh white florals, fennel, lemon balm oil, vanilla and a little baking spice. The palate is so wonderfully layered, expressive and vibrant with notes of ripe orchard fruit, gooseberry, citrus peel, wet mineraltiy and florals. The mid-palate is alive yet with a wonderful texture and precision, the finish has mineral and saline nature, is long and lingers for what seems forever. (1279 views) | | | Tasted by Ohlawuly on 11/19/2023 & rated 95 points: Medium yellow. Nose of peach, Asian pear, with a hint of cream and oak. Its good freshness and a little sweetness make a perfectly balanced palate. Creamy aftertaste with stone fruits, dried pineapple, and mango provide a good ending. Approachable now. (1056 views) | | | Tasted by kostaslonis on 10/31/2023: 2019 Bordeaux Tasting, MW tasting (Vintner's Hall, London): 90% SB 5% Sem 5% Sauv Gris, 14.50%
A bit different than the other whites tasted before, more lime/lemon, tropical fruit notes, sweet vanilla notes, nutty, walnut, walnut liqueur, very oaky at this point.
Palate is rounder, frutier, light even, but sill under buckets of oak, full palate, again tropical notes, citrus peel, some oxidative notes even, long finish (1233 views) | | | Tasted by kfpwagner on 10/15/2023 & rated 90 points: Gabriel Weinreise, Sonntag, Verkostung mit Ehepaar Cathiard. Gab Mandeln als Grundlasyyssüüa
15.10.2023. reifer Weißer mit ausgiebiger malaktotischer G. Clementine, Citrus, Marakuja
Will nach mehr, süffig. Wenig Säure. (1126 views) | | | Tasted by Enricaccio on 7/30/2023 & rated 94 points: One of the best white Bordeaux out there; nose is very tropical with some white peaches, a little licorice and a hint of lemongrass; Body is medium + (but I would not describe it as full body), palate is all ripe fruit; it's missing the bright acidity of later vintages, so this is a very well balanced wine. Great long finish with some nutty notes, just to remind you that it was oak aged. It will be interesting to see how it develops in the next few years. (1369 views) | | | Tasted by HeavyPourWine on 5/24/2023 & rated 92 points: A week in Bordeaux (Mouton, Pontet Canet, D'Issan, Langoa & Leoville Barton, SHL, Arbo, Pavie, Fleur de Bouard, Cheval Blanc, VCC, Figeac); 5/21/2023-5/26/2023 (Left and Right banks of Bordeaux): Tasted @ Chateau. Impressive bordeaux white! (1625 views) | | | Tasted by Xavier Auerbach on 3/5/2023 & rated 94 points: Académie des Cinquante Tasting and Dinner with the Académie du Vin de Bordeaux (Restaurant Entrepot, Amsterdam, NL): Walkaround tasting, brief note. Ripe and fresh, beautifully pure expression, mild pyrazines and subtly tropical fruit, barely visible oak provides grip on the finish. (2448 views) | | | Tasted by pavel_p on 12/3/2022 & rated 94 points: UGC 2019 Singapore (Singapore): Fine texture, very good balance, good complexity and length. Best Graves white at the tasting. (2393 views) | | | Tasted by remyworldpeace on 12/1/2022 & rated 93 points: Union des Grands Crus de Bordeaux 2019 Vintage Tasting, Singapore: Tasted at UGC Bordeaux 2019 tasting in Singapore.
Some real sophistication and quality on display here. Tropical fruits including pineapple and coconut. Cream hints and a touch of lemon and lime acidity - very well balanced and fresh.
To my mind sits somewhere between Domaine de Chevalier Blanc and Aile d'Argent in terms of how tropical this is!
Excellent potential and one of the highlights of the tasting for me. Drinking now but will benefit from further age in bottle. Anticipated range 92-95. (1988 views) | | | Tasted by Waël on 9/25/2022 & rated 94 points: Young, vibrant and energetic. Time will be kind to this one. Light straw colour and thin in the glass. The nose opens up with young fruit- lime, lemon zest, Granny Smith apple, green guava and passion fruit. The palate is acidic, fresh, slicing. Floral notes precede the fruit; jasmin, violet, magnolia. Green mango, unripe cherimoya, and hints of pineapple and vanilla on the finish. Beautiful wine now, but I am willing to bet time will reward the patient. My next bottle 2026. (1485 views) | | | Tasted by englishman's claret on 9/22/2022 & rated 93 points: Smoky, creamy, lemony nose, opening nicely with a little verbena. Pineapple with air. Good chew here ad a savory marine note on the back end. (2247 views) | | | Tasted by Beeck10 on 9/12/2022 & rated 93 points: or it's much to young to drink or I had expected more, very floral but a lack of power in the nose, the acidity in the mouth was great , but a little unbalance between nose and mouth ! probably it wil develop itself in the next 5 years ! (1161 views) | | | Tasted by Roger Patterson on 6/30/2022 & rated 92 points: Floral, lifted, subdued grass, classic acidity. At LA UGC (1341 views) | | | Tasted by Jeff Leve on 3/29/2022 & rated 97 points: The attention seeking perfume kicks in with flowers, white peaches, dried pineapple, and a touch of honeydew melon. Lush, creamy and with a dab of honey to sweeten all the yellow and orange citrus on the palate, the wine finishes creamy sweet and fresh. Drink from 2022-2035. (2772 views) | | | Tasted by Xavier Auerbach on 3/15/2022 & rated 93 points: Amsterdam UGCB Tasting (Beurs van Berlage): Lovely fraicheur, marries Sémillon ripeness with crisp Sauvignon Blanc, elegant weight, grippy oak on the finish. (2479 views) | | | Tasted by merlotsmile on 3/4/2022 & rated 94 points: 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris und 5% Semillon.
Ljust gröngul färg.
Expressiv doft av citrus, vita persikor, blodgrape, mandarin
I smaken fräsch, frisk men avrundad syra, lite sältigt mineralitet, slank kropp kombinerad med en fet textur, lång finish med bra tryck och lager på lager känsla. Oerhört balanserad. Fantastiska fat. Kändes som mer än 5% Semillon i blenden. (1140 views) | | | Tasted by vvWine.ch on 1/13/2022 & rated 98 points: 98 vvPunkte (90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris und 5% Semillon): Helles Gelb. Der Wein offenbart in der Nase eine wunderbare Komplexität, ist nicht aufdringlich, sondern äusserst distinguiert, subtil, nobel und dennoch verspielt, die Frucht schwankt zwischen grünem Apfel und reifer Salzzitrone hin und her, darüber findet man florale Noten, das Holz ist dezent im Hintergrund, Rauch und Stein, Exotik und Frische. Im Gaumen pure Präzision, wow, was für eine Eleganz, ungemein leichtfüssig tänzelt dieser Wein über die Zunge, baut am mittleren Gaumen dennoch viel Druck auf, die Frucht ist auf den Punkt gereift, die Textur cremig, eine messerscharfe Säure stützt. Wie schon der "kleine Haut Lafitte" zeigt dieser Grand Vin Kraft und Finesse, hinterlässt im Abgang ein fast nicht enden wollendes Aaromenbild, aus Frucht, Würze und Floralität. Endet salzig und lässt mich staunen. 2022-2035+ vvWine.ch (1979 views) | | | Tasted by Cailles on 11/15/2021 & rated 95 points: Bordeaux 2019 - 15 red / 2 white / 4 sweet wines: UCG Arrivage Tasting. I’ve managed to taste only two white Bordeauxs which is not enough to assess the quality of the vintage for whites. Both wines showed quite expressive and intense but were obviously quite different animals: the Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc (rated 95 pts) with 90%+ Sauvignon Blanc was its usual self with loads of spearmint and minerality and was carried by a high and round acidic backbone. Everytime I taste this wine I ask myself why I don’t have any bottle in my cellar. The Pape Clement Blanc (91 pts) with 40% Semillon showed much broader and especially sweeter which is not my favorite style. Clearly inferior to the Smith Haut Lafitte this year (and every year).
TN: Very intense and powerful on the nose and palate with intense fresh spearmint aromas, citrus aromas and a flora component and a beautiful minerality component. The wine is intense, with the right amount of creaminess and a high but very round and well-integrated acidity. Very well delineated, very fresh and light, not too much ripeness or sweetness, good length and overall this is a complete wine. This is easily worth 94 to 96 pts. (2648 views) | | | Tasted by sirpat00 on 11/15/2021 & rated 92 points: Arvi Bordeaux 2019 Arrivage (Dolder Grand, Zurich): Tasting of 25 wines (2 whites, 3 sweet, no first growths) at a Bordeaux 2019 in the bottle event. My observations were: i/ the tannic structure was soft and well-integrated across the board, ii/ the fruit was generally fresh and light with no heavy-handed extractions, iii/ Top wines were Client (97), Léoville Barton (96) and Smith Haut Lafitte (96). More thoughts and list of wines included in the tasting story.
Tasting note:
The fruit was fresh with Sauvignon Blanc dominant, showing lychee, a spicey overlay and salty minerality. Palate was very fresh with lots of acidity and much more citric in terms of fruit. This is in-line with the previous 4 years, coming across a bit simple and a touch less complex than the Domaine de Chevalier Blanc. (2282 views) | | | Tasted by Jeff Leve on 6/8/2020 & rated 97 points: Walk into a flower garden and squeeze lemons, grapefruit and white peach all over everything, with honeydew melon and you get an idea of the nose here. Great lift, vibrancy, elegance and mouth-feel, with length, purity and freshness. This is the best white wine from Smith Haut Lafitte in a few years! The wine was produced from a blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris and 5% Semillon. 97 Pts (5297 views) | | | Tasted by schneesurfer on 6/5/2020 & rated 95 points: Pineapple, elder, sweet and fruity. Great power with fine tannins. Long lingering finish. 94-96 (2029 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Neal Martin
Vinous, Bordeaux 2019: The Southwold Tasting (Feb 2023) (2/1/2023)
(Smith Haut-Lafitte Smith Haut-Lafitte Blanc White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (1/16/2023)
(Ch Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jeb Dunnuck
JebDunnuck.com, Bordeaux 2019 From Bottle (4/11/2022)
(Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc) Login and sign up and see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, April 2022 (4/1/2022)
(Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte Pessac-Léognan White) Subscribe to see review text. | By James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com (2/11/2022)
(Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte Pessac-Leognan Blanc, France) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, 2019 Bordeaux from Bottle: The Two Towers (Feb 2022) (2/1/2022)
(Smith Haut Lafitte Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Neal Martin
Vinous, Omne Trium Perfectum: Bordeaux 2019s in Bottle (Feb 2022) (2/1/2022)
(Smith Haut Lafitte Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, December 2021 (12/1/2021)
(Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte Pessac-Léognan White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Julia Harding, MW
JancisRobinson.com (11/10/2021)
(Ch Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jancis Robinson, MW
JancisRobinson.com (10/20/2021)
(Ch Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, October 2021 (10/1/2021)
(Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte Pessac-Léognan White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jeb Dunnuck
JebDunnuck.com, BORDEAUX 2019: A Modern-Day Version of 1982? (6/11/2020)
(Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc) Login and sign up and see review text. | JancisRobinson.com (6/9/2020)
(Ch Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Antonio Galloni
Vinous, 2019 Bordeaux: A Long, Strange Trip (Jun, 2020) (6/1/2020)
(Smith Haut Lafitte Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Neal Martin
Vinous, Uncertain Smile: Bordeaux 2019 (Jun 2020) (6/1/2020)
(Smith Haut Lafitte Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Chris Kissack
Winedoctor, June 2020 (6/1/2020)
(Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte Pessac-Léognan White) Subscribe to see review text. | By Jane Anson
Decanter, Bordeaux En Primeur 2019 Pessac-Léognan (5/30/2020)
(Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France, White) Subscribe to see review text. | By James Suckling
JamesSuckling.com (5/4/2020)
(Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte Pessac-Leognan Blanc, France) Subscribe to see review text. |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of Vinous and JancisRobinson.com and JebDunnuck.com and Winedoctor and JamesSuckling.com and Decanter. (manage subscription channels) |
| Château Smith Haut Lafitte Producer website – Read more about Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte
Producers > Château Smith Haut Lafitte See map
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.
BACKGROUND: The noble Bosq family started growing grapes as early as 1365. The property was purchased in the 18th century by Scotsman George Smith, who gave the estate its present name. He also built the manor house and exported his – by now famous – wine to England on his own ships. In 1842, Mr. Duffour-Dubergier, Mayor of Bordeaux and an enthusiastic winegrower, inherited Château Smith Haut Lafitte from his mother and brought the wine up to great growth status. Impressed by Smith Haut Lafitte's excellent quality, the Louis Eschenauer company distributed the wine all over the world starting in the early 20th century, deciding to buy the estate in 1958. After the Eschenaueur period came to an end, a great deal of money has been invested in the estate, particularly on the construction of a superb underground cellar holding over 1,000 barrels. In 1990, Daniel Cathiard fell in love with the property and joined the list of prestigious owners, firmly intending to further enhance Smith Haut Lafitte's tradition of excellence. He combined the most modern winemaking techniques and age-old methods: organic compost, small wooden vats, ageing on the lees in barrel, etc. France Vins de France (Office National Interprofessionnel des Vins ) | Pages Vins, Directory of French Winegrowers | French Wine (Wikipedia)
Wine Scholar Guild vintage ratings
2018 vintage: "marked by a wet spring, a superb summer and a good harvest"
2019 vintage reports
2021: "From a general standpoint, whether for white, rosé or red wines, 2021 is a year marked by quality in the Rhône Valley Vineyards. Structured, elegant, fresh and fruity will be the main keywords for this new vintage."
2022 harvest: idealwine.info | wine-searcher.comBordeaux Bordeaux Wine Guide
Vins Bordeaux (Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux)
History of Bordeaux
History of 1855 Bordeaux Classification
"2009 is all about ripeness, with wines impressively packed with ripe fruit and high alcohol levels. They are showy, in-your-face, and full of pleasure. The 2010s have the fruit and alcohol levels of the 2009s, but with a compelling freshness on the finish that balances the fruit and provides a perfect sense of structure." - Ben Nelson
"2016 is a landmark vintage in certain spots of Bordeaux and it should be remembered as one of the most inspired campaigns of the last 40-50+ years." -Jon Rimmerman
"The quality of red Bordeaux in 2016 was universally lauded – although the response to the en primeur campaign was muted. Quantity was high too, with the equivalent of 770 million bottles of wine produced. An exceptionally dry summer with cool nights eventually, thanks to mid September rain, resulted in small, thick-skinned, ripe grapes, and the wines are marked by high tannin and acidity, with superb aromatic fragrance." - Jancis Robinson
"2017 was complicated, but there are some excellent wines. Expect plenty of freshness and drinkability from wines that will offer excellent value, and others that will rival 2016 in terms of ripeness and ageability. But they are likely to be the exception not the rule, making careful selection key." - Jane Anson
"In the past, a vintage such as 2022 may have been overripe, raisined and low in acidity but 2022 had a sneaky little reservoir in its back pocket - a near perfect marriage of cool/cold/rain the previous winter and the previous vintage that literally soaked the soils (a key to why 2022 is not 2003...or 1893)." - Jon RimmermanGraves Vins de Graves (Conseil des Vins de Graves) - Read more about Pessac Leogan Graves and its winesPessac-Léognan Pessac-Leognan reds:
Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
Soil: Predominantly gravel and sandy rock, with varying proportions of clay and sandstone
Surface Area: 1,491 ha
Pessac-Leognan whites:
Grape Varieties: Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon
Soil: Gravel and rocks covered with sand, sandstone, and clay
Surface Area: 275 ha |
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