Reveals fragrant scents of lime blossoms, lemongrass and shaved ginger with a core of yuzu, fresh apple slices and kumquat plus a waft of dill seed. Medium-bodied, the palate is packed with zip and zing, offering a racy acid backbone and a seriously minerally finish.
Reviews:
- James Suckling: Already a delicious, fruity white with light mango, pear and honey character. Medium body, creamy texture and a fruity finish.
- Wine Advocate: The 2019 Les Hauts de Smith Blanc begins a little closed on the nose, soon unfurling to reveal fragrant scents of lime blossoms, lemongrass and shaved ginger with a core of yuzu, fresh apple slices and kumquat plus a waft of dill seed. Medium-bodied, the palate is packed with zip and zing, offering a racy acid backbone and a seriously minerally finish.
Producer Information
Château Smith Haut Lafitte is located in Pessac-Léognan on the Left Bank of the Garonne River. During the 1959 Classification of the Graves it was rated as Grand Cru Classé for its red wine. Nowadays the estate is also considered to produce one of the foremost examples of white Bordeaux. Cabernet Sauvignon usually accounts for 60-65 percent of the red grand vin. Merlot contributes around 30 percent, and small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot round out a typical blend. The wine is aged in barrel for around 18 months, with 60-65 percent new wood.The vineyard is farmed organically and produces its own compost. A horse is used to plow the more fragile soils of the white wine vineyard. Biodiversity efforts include the siting of beehives around the estate. Smith Haut Lafitte has its own vine nursery, situated on Ile de Lalande in the middle of the Garonne. All grapes are harvested by hand by a team of more than 100 pickers. Picking dates and various other viticultural practices are influenced by row-by-row imaging from the Oenoview satellite system. A Vistalysis optical system scans each berry, identifying and removing lesser-quality fruit.
