Smith Haut Lafitte - Pessac Leognan Blanc 2020 (750ml)
Price: $184.00
| Producer | Smith Haut Lafitte |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bordeaux |
| Subregion | Pessac-Leognan |
| Varietal | Bordeaux Blend White |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Sku | 1308680 |
| Size | 750ml |
Jeb Dunnuck: 100 Points
Lastly and pure perfection in white wine the 2020 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is based on 90% Sauvignon Blanc 5% Sauvignon Gris and 5% Semillon that was aged in 50% new oak. This massively rich concentrated powerful white offers a heavenly nose of honeyed flowers orange marmalade lemon grass and toasted bread with a building sense of salinity and minerality that shows on the finish. Drink this stunningly rich layered concentrated 2020 over the coming two decades.
Jane Anson: 97 Points
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.
James Suckling: 95-96 Points
A tight phenolic white with light tannins that give the wine form and balance. It?s full-bodied and lightly chewy with dried apple lemon and peach. Minerally and chewy. Flavorful. From organic grapes. 90 sauvignon blanc 5% sauvignon gris and 5% semillon.
The Wine Independent: 96 Points
The 2020 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is composed of 90% Sauvignon Blanc 5% Semillo
Decanter: 96 Points
Butterscotch vanilla a soft honeyed caramel lemon and orange notes with green apple. Quite bitter straight away the lemon and orange rind and grapefruit juice elements all to the fore alongside a hit of bright lemon juice acidity. Then it settles almost closes or narrows into a funnel quite tight and sleek definite tension there but there's power and structure still with elegance. It's not giving generous and approachable right now but this has been well made - really focused and polished. Body freshness and structure with lovely hints of minerality and such a wide aerial aerated finish. It's serious - this is bold but with something so special about it. Ageing 50% new oak 50% one year old barrels 12 months with three months in vats before bottling.
Wine Spectator: 95 Points
Suave and caressing in feel this drapes beautifully with creamed yellow apple gooseberry and lemon curd notes on the flattering side offset by hints of tarragon blanched almond and salted butter on the racier side. The finish is enhanced with paraffin and smoke hints. Sauvignon Blanc Sémillon and Sauvignon Gris. Drink now through 2030. 2400 cases made 250 cases imported.
Vinous: 95 Points
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. - By Antonio Galloni on December 2022
Wine Advocate: 94 Points
A strong effort the 2020 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc wafts from the glass with aromas of nectarine pear lemongrass Sauvignon botanicals toasted bread and baking spices. Medium to full-bodied satiny and layered it's rich and concentrated with ripe acids and chalky structuring extract. It's not quite as vibrant and precise as the 2019 but it's a success nonetheless.
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