Château Smith Haut Lafitte white - Pessac-Léognan 2018 b5952cb1c3ab96cb3c8c63cfb3dccaca

Vinous

92-94 / 100

byNeal Martinthe11/15/2019

The 2018 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc was taken directly from tank. According to winemaker Fabien Teitgen it will be bottled in December 2019, a sufficient time to obtain the definition he seeks. It has a tightly wound bouquet that feels very closed at the moment, touches of pressed white flowers intermingling with granite and green apple scents. The palate is very well balanced with fine definition. This feels saline in the mouth with quite penetrating acidity (pH 3.15), a white Pessac-Léognan that gets the saliva flowing, with a pretty green apple and dried apricot finish. Very promising.

WeinWisser

18,5 / 20

the5/7/2019

Vinifera

94 /

byJacques Perrinthe5/1/2019

Très belle profondeur, grande texture, expansive. Beaucoup de plénitude dans le goût. Il évolue lentement en boucheautour d'une dynamique fruitée d'une bonne intensité. 

Vinous

91-94 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe5/1/2019

The 2018 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is gorgeous. One of the more pure, crystalline wines of the year, the Blanc is airy, lifted and very pretty. Time in the glass brings out attractive textural richness and creaminess in the lemon peel, floral and mint notes, with light tropical overtones that develop on the finish. In 2018, the Blanc is a wine of real brilliance and class. Tasted two times.

Jeb DUNNUCK

96-98 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/1/2019

The grand vin is the 2018 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc, which is mostly Sauvignon Blanc with 5% each of Sémillon and Sauvignon Gris, that’s being brought up in 50% new French oak. Deeper, richer, yet still racy and vibrant, it has gorgeous notes of tart pineapple, crushed citrus, salty minerality, and white flowers. Rich, concentrated, medium to full-bodied, it's unquestionably one of the whites of the vintage.

Wine Advocate

94-96 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/23/2019

The Smith Haut Lafitte 2018 Blanc is composed of 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sémillon and 5% Sauvignon Gris, aging in 50% new oak barriques. It features intense scents of lime leaves, pink grapefruit, white peaches and green mango with hints of yuzu, lemon meringue pie, crushed rocks and coriander seed. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is laden with energetic citrus and stone fruit layers, with a satiny texture and bold freshness, finishing long and mineral laced.

Wine Enthusiast

96-98 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/17/2019

This well-rounded wine offers flavors of ripe yellow fruit, apple and pear, with bright acidity to balance. The texture, concentration and intensity linger on the finish. The wine will age well.

Jamessuckling.com

97-98 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/12/2019

This is very dense and deep with glorious fruit and a creamy textured, very long finish. A superb young white. Energetic yet textured. Lots of sliced-lemon, lime and apple character with some cream. Top.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

96 / 100

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/8/2019

Wine Spectator

94-97 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/3/2019

Already very full in feel, with alluring tangerine, verbena, orange blossom, bitter almond and brioche notes. Long and lush, this is coming together in a hurry and is set to be one of the showier wines of the vintage.

Yvesbeck.wine

93-94 / 100

byYves Beckthe4/1/2019

90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris, 5% Sémillon
Bouquet complexe aux nombreuses facettes avec des parfums de fruits de la passion, de menthe et d’anis. Avec un peu d’air, apparaissent des notes de mirabelles et d’abricots. Caractère friand en bouche. Le vin a du gras, une touche suave et de la race. Belle expression aromatique, et bonne tension. Un vin abouti, équilibré, surprenant de par sa race et qui ira dans le temps. Caractère salin et frais en finale avec une amertume noble qui soutient idéalement l’expression fruitée. 2022-2033

Decanter.com

94 / 100

byJane Ansonthe4/1/2019

You can feel a touch more ripeness here than in some years but they have beautifully captured flavours of fleshy yellow pears, freshly cut herbs and some slate and saline minerality. This should manage a long life and I am surprised here, as with a few whites this year, by the grip and sense of fun in the wine. It's not quite the 2017 again, but has its own claim for attention. 50% new oak. Harvested 24 August to 17 September, by far the longest ever at SHL. Technical director Fabien Teitgen said he started picking early because he was worried about losing acidity, but found it was actually much better than expected. 28hl/ha yield.
Drinking Window 2022 - 2036

La Revue du Vin de France

18-18,5 / 20

the4/1/2019