97-99 Barrel sample. The wine is dominated by fine Sauvignon Blanc. It has a marvelous poise between great freshness and richness, which is especially impressive given it's from a dry year. This is a powerful wine, a great success given the growing conditions.
The sliced apples and pears with lemon blossoms and hints of dried pineapple and flint follow through to a medium body with brightness and energy. The finish is impressive with white pepper, crushed sea salt and spice. Really great finish here. All about energy. 90% sauvignon blanc, 5% semillon and 5% sauvignon gris. Better after 2028 but already a joy to taste.
Simply stunning and undeniably one of the whites of the vintage, the 2022 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc has a light gold hue as well as a brilliant perfume of honeyed grapefruit, crushed stone, and lemon zest. Rich, full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and concentrated on the palate, it’s one of those rare whites that brings a red wine-like sense of structure and mouthfeel while staying vibrant, juicy, and incredibly precise. Give it 2-3 years and enjoy through 2042.
#85 in Top 100, 2025. This shimmers with a salted butter note that adds a flattering edge to its panoply of shortbread, singed almond, honeysuckle, lemon curd and creamed white peach flavors. Feels regal, with a long finish that deftly toes the balance between the toasted and fresh, unadorned sides of the spectrum. A rare dry white that can handle all four seasons as anything from a solo aperitif to a main course partner. Beautiful. Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon and Sauvignon Gris. Drink now through 2035.
A beautifully alluring nose, with ripe pineapple, honeysuckle, and a subtle spiciness, alongside freshly picked pear. The Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon characters shine through, giving both aromatic intensity and depth. On the palate, there’s a purity of fruit - quince, mango, and pineapple - layered with crisp green apple, wet stones, and a delicate struck match note, complemented by a touch of toast. Despite the ripe fruit expression, the palate is taut, driven by acidity and subtle bitterness that accentuates every nuance. It finishes crystalline, cool, and mouthwatering, with an elegant balance of juiciness and tension. No flabbiness, no sharpness, just elongated precision. The unmistakable SHL signature is strong here, showcasing multifaceted complexity with peach juiciness, white chocolate richness, and a honeyed weight. This is impeccably crafted and will only grow in stature with time.
The 2022 Blanc from Smith Haut Lafitte is an impressive effort this year, evoking aromas of white fruits, pear, white peach, spices and spring flowers. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and layered, it's rich and concentrated with ripe acids enhanced by beautiful, chalky dry extracts, culminating in a long, saline and lovely oaky finish. This white wine always rewards patience and marries tension and charm to pleasing effect.
The 2022 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc has a pretty, peachy bouquet that opens nicely in the glass. Fine delineation, though it is missing some mineralité. The palate is weighty on the entry, with fine depth and grip, a keen thread of acidity and, like its peers, there is a touch of oiliness and a dab of lemongrass on the finish. Very fine. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting in London.
TWI
92pts
The Wine Independent
The blend is 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% each Sauvignon Gris and Semillon, and the fermentation and élevage was in a mixture of 50% each new barrels and second-fill barrels. A nose of perfumed talc, meringue laced with mint flowers and lemon, with herbal notes too, suggestive of rosemary and lemon balm, and a finely crushed, powdery layer of minerals. It has a real presence on the palate, showing cohesion and definition, with good grip, plenty of energy and drive. A delicate bitterness adds to the mix, but it has acidity as well, albeit a modest degree, and it struggles a little in the broad and flavoursome generosity of the vintage. A big and broad-shouldered style, fresh and bright, with a higher alcohol of course, but with balance too. This will keep, thanks to those phenolics, but it will never have the tension of a truly great vintage. Tasted twice. The alcohol on the label is 14.5%.
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