Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Le Petit Blanc 2021
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James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker -
Jeb
Dunnuck - Decanter
Product Details
Your Rating
Somm Note
Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Both fresh and ripe with pleasing notes of green mangoes, papayas, limes and kiwi. Flint and shells, too. Medium-bodied with excellent tension and a textured finish.
Barrel Sample: 93-94 -
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Sémillon that matured in 50% new oak barrels, the 2021 Le Petit Haut Lafitte Blanc exhales a spicy, elegant bouquet with aromas of lime tree leaves, verbena, spring flowers and citrus oil. Medium to full-bodied, round and satiny, it’s fleshier than Les Hauts de Smith with gastronomic bitterness on the finish.
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Jeb Dunnuck
Mostly Sauvignon yet blended with 20% Semillon, the 2021 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is a richer, deeper, more serious wine, with beautiful peach, crushed stone, green almond, and white flower-like aromas and flavors. It's medium-bodied, concentrated, and lengthy, and is unquestionably an outstanding white in the making.
Barrel Sample: 91-93 -
Decanter
Crunchy green apple, lime juice and some elderflower with really soft hints of honeyed brioche. Sharp yet soft, this has a good immediate presence of lemony, peach and apricot fruit and a creamy base which is given an energetic push by a lemon zest freshness. Gentle, softly round and driving, this feels refined and delicate, elegant with enough vibrancy and power to give a mouthful of wine with persistence. Very enjoyable.
Barrel Sample:
Other Vintages
2022-
James
Suckling -
Jeb
Dunnuck - Decanter
-
Robert
Parker
-
James
Suckling -
Robert
Parker - Decanter
Thanks to its 55 hectares of superb gravelly vineyards, Smith Haut Lafitte is often referred to as the "archetypical Graves." The estate's history goes back to the Crusades, and a Scottish navigator, George Smith, who became the owner of the estate in the 18th century. He was followed by M. Duffour-Dubergier, Mayor of Bordeaux, and then Louis Eschenauer, a famous wine shipper.
In 1990, Daniel and Florence Cathiard also fell under the spell of this beautiful estate. Since then, they have restored the 16th century tower, renovated the 18th century manor house, built two underground cellars, went back to traditional vine growing methods without chemical herbicides and set up their own cooperage. The perfect elegance, excellent balance and fine structure of Smith Haut Lafitte's red and white wines are the ultimate reflection of the current owners' total commitment to quality.