2014 Les Hauts de Smith Blanc
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Tasting notes
The 2014 Les Hauts de Smith Blanc (100 % Sauvignon Blanc) brings together the aromatic brightness and energy of Sauvignon Blanc, but with striking palate density and weight. Apricot, peach, mint and pastry give the wine its breadth and textural intensity. This is a gorgeous Pessac white.
Critic scores
Average Score
Neal Martin
Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider
More reviews and scores
The 2014 Les Hauts de Smith Blanc, 100% Sauvignon Blanc, boasts tremendous depth and richness. Pear, apricot, slate and crushed rocks meld together in a wine that impresses with a fabulous push and pull of flavors and textures. Beams of saline-infused minerality propel the energetic finish. This is a fabulous showing.
The Les Hauts de Smith Blanc 2014 is pure Sauvignon Blanc matured in 50% new oak. It has an exquisite bouquet that really exploits the gravel over clay soils (on the lower part of the Smith Haut Lafitte.) There is fine mineralité here. The palate is citrus fresh on the entry with a sharp line of acidity. There is a light oyster shell influence, almost as if a drop of top-notch Muscadet had sauntered into the blending vat, and I mean that in a positive way. There is plenty of character here–another superb white wine from the estate.
About the producer
Ch. Smith Haut Lafitte is one of the leading lights of Pessac-Léognan today – all thanks to Daniel and Florence Cathiard, who took over the property in 1990 and have since transformed the estate, converting to biodynamics and crafting wines of increasing finesse.