2017 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc
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Tasting notes
The 2017 Le Petit Haut Lafitte Blanc is dense and creamy, not to mention wonderfully inviting. Rich, tropical overtones add an exotic flair. Mango, passion fruit and white flowers infuse the 2017 with striking nuance. Ample and expressive, the Petit Haut Lafitte Blanc does everything a second wine should - namely it captures the personality and style of the Grand Vin, but in miniature. There is so much to like. The blend is 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Sémillon. The Sémillon is taken from the same parcels that inform the Grand Vin because of the small amount of Sémillon on the estate. Tasted two times.
Critic scores
James Suckling
Neal Martin
More reviews and scores
The 2017 Le Petit Haut Lafitte Blanc is mostly Sauvignon yet includes 20% Semillon. It’s a more serious, focused, ageworthy white offering brilliant notes of stone fruits, white flowers, and crushed rocks. Tasting like a mini version of the grand vin with its medium to full-bodied richness and racy, salty style on the palate, it’s ideal for enjoying over the coming decade or more.
Lemon confit, smoke, slate and orchard fruit abound in the 2017 Le Petit Haut Lafitte Blanc. The flavors are brisk, precise and wonderfully nuanced in this super-expressive second white wine from Smith Haut Lafitte. Intense aromatics carry through to the super-expressive, nuanced finish. The blend is 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Sémillon. The Sémillon is taken from the same parcels that inform the Grand Vin because of the small amount of Sémillon on the estate. Tasted two times
The 2017 Le Petit Haut Lafitte Blanc has a clean and fresh bouquet with honeysuckle and yellow plum aromas, just a touch of kaffir lime. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grainy tannin, some stone fruit (nectarine and persimmon) with a touch of salinity towards the finish that is given depth by the 50% new oak.
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.