Appellations

Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2020

Dry Whites

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Tasting Notes

The 2020 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is superb. Élevage has done wonders in lending energy and brilliance. The 2020 shows the soft curves of the warm vintage, but it has tons of energy, too. That makes for an absolutely brilliant, compelling white that delivers on so many levels. The 2020 offers enough approachability to drink well now, but also the energy to develop well in bottle for many years to come.

Score: 95 Antonio Galloni, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2023-2030 Date: 23 February 2023

The 2020 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is compelling. Soft, silky and caressing, the 2020 is all charm and seduction. Ripe pear, apricot, white flowers, mint and a touch of new oak are all deftly woven together. Best of all, the 2020 will drink well pretty much upon release. It's a gorgeous wine in the making.

Score: 93 - 95 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2023 - 2035 Date: 01 June 2021

Intense and complex from the first nose, with sharp-edged citrus that widens to creamy white peach, nectarine and pear through the mid palate, then kicks back up with bitter almond on the finish, giving the impression of separate textures and characters playing off each other. This is salivating and totally engrossing, with cold ash, chimney soot and gunsmoke coming in waves as it opens, with oyster shell salinity. 29hl/ha yield, 50% new oak barrels for ageing, with a few months back in stainless steel tanks before bottling. Harvest August 20 to September 9, one of the earliest on record. Certified organic as of 2019 in the vineyard, fully biodynamic farming as of this 2020 vintage. An upscore from En Primeur, a lovely wine from technical director Fabien Teitgen.

Score: 97 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Maturity: 2023-2028 Date: 09 February 2023

The 2020 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc has a well-defined bouquet with honeysuckle, jasmine, touches of chalk and citrus fruit, the floral component becoming more expressive with time in the glass. Fine mineralité. The palate is very well balanced with grapefruit and yellow plum, hints of nectarine, bitter lemon joining the chorus line with aeration. It feels long and tensile and it should give up to 20 years' drinking pleasure.

Score: 94 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2023-2040 Date: 08 February 2023

The 2020 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc was cropped at 29hl/ha and aged in 60% new oak barrels. It takes its time to unfurl on the nose, toying with the olfactory senses before revealing attractive honeysuckle, yellow flowers, jasmine, melon and very subtle chamomile scents, gaining intensity with aeration. The palate is very well balanced with an intense, concentrated opening, a little more viscous in texture than the Le Petit Haut Lafitte, deeper and a touch spicier. Veins of lemongrass and stem ginger appear toward the finish. This should drink well for 15–20 years. One of the best dry whites of the vintage.

Score: 92 - 94 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2023 - 2040 Date: 28 May 2021

The 2020 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc was cropped at 29hl/ha and aged in 60% new oak barrels. It takes its time to unfurl on the nose, toying with the olfactory senses before revealing attractive honeysuckle, yellow flowers, jasmine, melon and very subtle chamomile scents, gaining intensity with aeration. The palate is very well balanced with an intense, concentrated opening, a little more viscous in texture than the Le Petit Haut Lafitte, deeper and a touch spicier. Veins of lemongrass and stem ginger appear toward the finish. This should drink well for 15–20 years. One of the best dry whites of the vintage.

Score: 92 - 94 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2023-2040 Date: 01 May 2021

The 2020 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris and 5% Sémillon. It fermented with indigenous yeasts in French oak, 50% new, within which it will age for 12 months on lees with bâtonnage before spending a further two to three months in tank. It prances out of the glass with vivacious notes of lime blossoms, Golden Delicious apples and green mango, plus hints of coriander seed, shaved ginger and wet pebbles. The medium-bodied palate possesses lovely harmony even at this nascent stage, featuring bright apple and citrus flavors with soft acidity and a chalky finish.

Score: 94 - 96 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2025 - 2037 Date: 20 May 2021