Château Smith Haut Lafitte white - Pessac-Léognan 2017 4df5d4d9d819b397555d03cedf085f48

Wine Advocate

97 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/17/2020

The 2017 Blanc prances out of the glass with pretty, cheerful scents of fresh green apples, lemongrass, lime leaves and white peaches plus spicy touches of fresh ginger, coriander seed and white pepper. Medium-bodied, the palate has fantastic intensity and tension, with a racy backbone cutting through the tightly knit citrus and spice layers, finishing long and mineral laced. Drinking Window : 2024 - 2053. 97+

Vinous

96 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe3/11/2020

The 2017 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is very clearly one of the wines of the vintage. Rich, voluptuous and creamy, the 2017 has so much to offer. Citrus peel, white flowers and mint are all generous in the glass. More than that, the 2017 offers an interplay of tension and textural opulence that is incredibly appealing. The blend is 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sémillon and 5% Sauvignon Gris.

Wine Spectator

96 / 100

byJames Molesworththe2/7/2020

Juicy energy ripples from start to finish, with gooseberry, yellow apple, chamomile, tarragon and verbena notes giving this a tangy and flattering character. Reveals a long salted butter edge on the finish. Lovely now, but will fan out and become plumper with time. Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Sauvignon Gris. Best from 2021 through 2030. 2,083 cases made. — JM

Jamessuckling.com

97 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe1/13/2020

This is fabulous white with sliced apples, pears, stones, flint and light cream. Really incredible. Full-bodied, yet so tight and polished with superb finesse and density at the same time. A fantastic Smith white. A blend of 90% sauvignon blanc, 5% sauvignon gris and 5% semillon. Drink or hold.

Le Point

15 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe6/20/2018

Fruits blancs, poire, bouche douce, du gras, pas très aromatique à ce stade, devrait bien évoluer.

Jeb DUNNUCK

92-94 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe6/12/2018

The Grand Vin 2017 Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte Blanc is a beauty that offers loads of clean, vibrant, pure fruit. Possessing medium-bodied richness, lots of salty minerality, and classic notes of lychee, lime, and exotic citrus, it has the freshness and purity of the vintage, and backs it up with rock solid depth and weight.

WeinWisser

18,5 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe5/31/2018

90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sémillon, 5% Sau­vignon Gris. Hetles Gelb. Zarter Duft nach weissen Mandetn und Pampet-muse. lm zweiten Ansatz weisser Pfir-sich, Passionsfrucht und Feuerstein. Am cremigen Gaumen mit stützender, kompakter Frische und reifem, dich-tem Extrakt. Gelber Apfel und Manda­rine im gebündelten Finale. Mischt auch dieses Jahr an der Spitze der besten Weissweine aus Léognan mit - gross-artig!                              
18.5/20 2020 - 2033

Le Figaro

18,5 / 20

byBernard Burtschythe5/21/2018

Vinous

93-96 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe5/15/2018

The 2017 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is magnificent. In the glass, the 2017 reminds me of the superb 2013, but with less austerity and more depth. Jasmine, lemon confit, white flowers and mint are finely cut. Above all else, the 2017 Blanc is a wine of energy and pure pedigree. I loved it. The blend is 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sémillon and 5% Sauvignon Gris.

Jancis Robinson

17,5 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe5/15/2018

La Revue du Vin de France

18-18,5 / 20

byPhilippe Maurangethe5/7/2018

Vinous

92-94 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/1/2018

The 2017 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc was deprived of a hectare parcel of 80-year old Sauvignon that was pulled up last year. It has a focused bouquet with mineral-driven citrus fruit, yellow plum and honeysuckle, the 50% new oak nicely integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with taut citrus fruit laced with pineapple and tangerine. There is a subtle tropical undercurrent to this Smith Haut-Lafite Blanc. It fans out generously towards the finish with a long and satisfying, lightly honeyed finish. This is a very fine white Smith Haut-Lafitte, already surfeit with pedigree that should age with style and panache.

Wine Advocate

96-98 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/27/2018

A blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc with 5% Sauvignon Gris and 5% Sémillon, the Smith Haut Lafitte 2017 Blanc offers up gorgeous, super-intense scents of pink grapefruit, white peaches, kumquats and ginger with wafts of under-ripe pineapple, lime blossoms and crushed rocks. Medium-bodied, it's very polished, sophisticated and wonderfully electric in the mouth, with sparks of citrus fruits, tropical notions and floral perfume exploding on the palate, finishing with epic persistence.

Decanter.com

96 / 100

byJane Ansonthe4/25/2018

A sophisticated, grown up white with the most beautifully placed savoury white peach flesh, shadowed by lime and tea leaves, and enclosed by slate. The fresh tension stands head and shoulders above many wines in this vintage. It's full of personality, zip and complexity, and is clearly going to age beautifully.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

17 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/17/2018

Bettane & Desseauve

17 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/17/2018

Jamessuckling.com

96-97 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/6/2018

This shows serious density and beauty with fantastic complexity and dimension. Full-bodied yet so fresh and beautiful. Layered and tight at the same time. Exciting to follow this one.

Wine Spectator

94-97 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/4/2018

Tight, but with a lot to like, from the yellow apple, white peach and star fruit core to the extra brioche, straw, honeysuckle and verbena nuances that weave throughout. Shows weight and drive on the finish. A beauty.—J.M.