Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2019

Château Smith Haut Lafitte is a Grand Cru Classé property within the Pessac-Léognan appellation that needs little to no introduction. The stunning wines from this estate captivate many a drinker and critic alike, and their expressions of white Bordeaux are some of the finest in the Left Bank. The property hosts a long history in Bordeaux that dates back over 800 years. It was initially a part of the Du Bosq holdings in the Graves region. The Du Bosq were the first to plant vines in 1365 in the graveled Lafitte plateau. The property was purchased in 1720 by a man named George Smith, who named it after himself and that is how Château Smith Haut Lafitte received its name. The property is presently owned by Daniel and Florence Cathiard. The Cathiards purchased Château Smith Haut Lafitte in 1990, and that is when the true story of this estate began. 

Prior to the Cathiards involvement, Château Smith Haut Lafitte was not a well-known wine producer.  The Cathiards purchased Château Smith Haut Lafitte because they were intrigued by the fact the vineyard was capable of producing both red and white wines. The Cathiards made a series of sweeping changes to the estate and stopped the use of mechanical harvesting. Instead, they handpicked the fruit.  They made changes to the sorting process, implementing two sorting passes to make sure only the choicest fruit get selected for the grand vin. The Cathiards also invested a significant amount of funding in building their own cooperage, which allowed them to produce 70% of their own barrels. They shifted farming practices towards sustainability, and the property is now considered a leader in that respect. As of 2020, they received a Robert Parker Green Emblem for sustainable viticultural practices. A mixture of tradition and technological innovation govern the winemaking practices at Château Smith Haut Lafitte. It is one of the first properties to use Oenoview satellite imagery to find the optimum time to begin harvest in addition to using optical sorting technology. 

For white varietals, a mixture of Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris and Semillon thrive in these vineyards. There are approximately 11 hectares of white varietals that are planted just behind the château to the North of the vineyard. Some of the old vine Sauvignon Blanc is 70 years of age.  Interestingly enough, the white varietals thrive in cooler microclimates of this diverse terroir. Native yeasts are used in vinifying, and the white varietals are farmed using a lot of biodynamic practices.  The wine is crystalline in its purity, with beautiful structure due to the slightly toasted French oak barrels that are made at the estates’ cooperage. The Cathiards have made the decision to hire Michel Rolland and Stephane Derenoncourt as consultants who guide the vinification process in the state-of-the-art gravity flow cellars. There is plenty of experimentation in the vat room, and this results in a dynamic and complex wine. Without a doubt, Château Smith Haut Lafitte is truly a classic, treasure of a white Bordeaux.

This vintage is composed of 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris and 5% Sémillon. 

This wine is a lovely pale-yellow color. The nose is very expressive, revealing very fresh citrus (grapefruit) notes, alongside ripe yellow fruit (peach, apricot, mango), as well as floral and spicy overtones (elderflower, star anise) coming to the fore, enhancing aromatic complexity. Starts out tight on the palate, becoming concentrated, powerful and rich. The overall impression is a polished wine with wonderful acidity. It has great length, underscored by superb balance between acidity and concentration, and a very soft texture. Yellow fruit and citrus aromas follow through to the palate, underpinned by incredibly complex spices and white flower notes.

"The blend this year is 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris and 5% Sémillon, fermented in French oak, 50% new, within which it will age for 12 months on lees with batonnage. The Smith Haut Lafitte 2019 Blanc has a nose that unfolds in stages—offering intense white grapefruit, green mango, yuzu and orange blossoms scents to begin, giving way to hints of coriander seed, turmeric, shaved almonds and cedar chest with wafts of baking bread and beeswax coming through after some coaxing. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is wonderfully opulent with layers of citrus, stone fruit and savory flavors and a seductive oiliness to the texture, finishing very long and fantastically refreshing. Wow-o-WOW, that is good!" - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (6/15/2020, Bordeaux 2019 Issue), Ratings: (96-98)+