2016 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc
Market price
Buying options
Tasting notes
The 2016 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is well defined on the nose of apple blossom, orange pith, Japanese yuzu and light crushed stone aromas, one of the prettiest and most harmonious dry white aromatics you will find in this vintage. The palate is fresh and vibrant with a lovely waxy texture. Very expressive Sémillon here, delivering great depth and reassuring complexity on the finish. This is an outstanding effort. Brilliant.
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Wine Spectator
More reviews and scores
The white of the vintage is the 2016 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc. It’s a magical elixir based on 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris, and 5% Sémillon that was brought up in 50% new oak. Deep, layered, and powerful, yet also vibrant, it has sensational notes of crushed citrus, liquid rock, white flower, lime pith, and honeyed grapefruit. It shows the classic, balanced style of the vintage yet offers thrilling depth and concentration and is a tour de force in white Bordeaux. Drink it any time over the coming two decades. Get it if you can!
The 2016 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc offers a complex, intoxicating bouquet of grapefruit, mirabelle and Japanese yuzu infused with crushed stone; touches of strawberry develop in the mouth. The palate is very well balanced and full of tension, and the lip-smacking acidity is very well judged. Very focused and brimming with energy right to the finish, when you request "more, please." Divine.
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.