Wine Advisor
Smith Haut Lafitte, Blanc 2012
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted blind at the Southwold 2012 tasting. The 2012 Smith-Haut-Lafitte Blanc has an intense bouquet with mint-fresh Granny Smith apple scents, quite exotic compared to its peers, greengage and gooseberry, a touch of tinned apricot. The palate is crisp and fresh on the entry with lime and gooseberry notes, the acidity well judged, a healthy veneer of new oak, but it is totally in sync with the fruit. Give this 4-5 years for everything to fully assimilate and you will have a splendid white Bordeaux. This is pure nectar. Tasted January 2016.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Under the capable hands of the Cathiard family, this property has been producing fabulous red and white wines. The 2012, another brilliant effort, exhibits notes of orange rind, figs, mangoes, pineapples and caramelized citrus presented in a full-bodied, heady, powerful style. It should drink well for 15-20 years.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted from a barrel sample at en primeur. A blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Semillon and 5% Sauvignon Gris (the latter to increase the density of the wine), the 2012 has a well-defined bouquet with lime, fresh apple, apricot blossom and cold stone. The palate is very well balanced with fresh dewy green apples, lime and citrus peel. There is a slight resinous quality on the spicy/lemongrass finish imparted by the Sauvignon Gris, with very good length. This is an excellent wine. Tasted April 2013.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
The grand vin, the 2012 Smith Haut Lafitte, offers up lovely honeysuckle, orange marmalade, white peach, fig, and caramelized citrus notes. Medium to full-bodied, with great concentration and length, and a stunningly long finish, it should last for 20-25 years.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2012 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is a supple, immediate wine. Pear, quince, white flowers, slate and mint all meld together in an effortless, gracious wine to enjoy now and over the next few years. Today the 2012 comes across as a bit one dimensional and not as complex nor complete as the very best years, and yet it is absolutely gorgeous, a testament to just how privileged this site is.
Reviewed by: James Suckling
Aromas of cream, cooked apples and pears follow through to a full body with toasted-oak, cream and vanilla character buttressed by plenty of fruit. So much peach and apricot character. This a bright and flamboyant wine for the vintage. One of the best dry whites. Drink or hold.
About the Producer
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is located in the village of Martillac in the Pessac-Leognan appellation, south of Bordeaux, France, and is a Grand Cru of the Graves appellation. The Château Smith Haut Lafitte complex is quite large, with a château, winery and large underground cellars, as well as a sizeable resort hotel (Les Sources de Caudalie), the Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa, the Caudalie restaurant, and the gardens, water and wine garden. The courtyard also features gardens, flowing water and a number of artistic sculptures, including a sculpture by Barry Flanagan called "The Flying Rabbit", as well as wonderful works by Chinese sculptor Huang Yongping and Italian artist Mimmo Paladino, among others. The Smith Haut Lafitte winery Smithers Lafitte has 78 hectares of vineyards planted with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, while the white varieties include 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Petit Verdot. Sauvignon Blanc, 5% of Sauvignon Gris and 5% of Semillon. The average age of the red vines is 38 years and the average age of the white vines is 40 years. The wines are fermented in stainless steel tanks or in large oak barrels, depending on the variety and the plot. After fermentation, the red wines are aged for 18 months in 60% new barrels and the white wines for 12 months in 50% new barrels. The wines are not filtered before bottling and have a unique, slightly smoky aroma that fully reflects the true nature of the Graves origin. The winery is currently being upgraded and will be 100% gravity-fed when the renovation is complete. The grapes are harvested at perfect ripeness, gently broken and fermented to extract the smoothest and softest tannins and flavours, and the wine is then aged for several years to reveal its qualities: crisp and complex aromas, balanced and full-bodied, elegant and firm on the palate. Currently, Château Smith Lafitte produces six wines: one red and one white, one red and one white, two secondary wines called Le Petit Haut Lafitte, and one red and one white, two tertiary wines called "Les Hauts de Smith". Château Smith Lafitte has stabilised in recent years, receiving high ratings from critics and the press in several vintages, and has been well received by the market. The top vintages of the winery into the 20th century are 2005, 2009, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.
