Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2011

This is truly great Smith white, with electrifying fruit and structure. It sends shivers down my back. Complex aromas of sliced lemon, minerals, stone, candied fruit and cream. It's full-bodied, with bright acidity and a lively finish. It goes on for minutes. A wine for the future - but who can wait? Drink or hold.

A blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% each of Semillon and Sauvignon Gris, this has a lifted mineral-rich bouquet scents of oyster shell, yuzu and apricot with fine delineation (the Sauvignon Blanc not particularly evident.) It is very attractive and very well defined. The palate is fresh and crisp on the entry, showing more weight and structure than the Les Haut de Smith but has a similar flavour profile. It has a satisfying citric kick on the finish. Excellent. Tasted April 2012.

Wow. This shows a beautiful density of fruit for this white with mango, papaya, mineral and light honey character. Long and subtle with plenty of gorgeous fruit. Grand cru Burgundy quality. Salty and mineraly. Lively.

11 hectares at Smith Haut Lafitte are planted with white varieties - 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris and 5% Semillon. Elevage of the white wine is in 50% new oak. 2011 was the earliest ever harvest here, starting on August 18th. This is a wine of great balance with gorgeous creamy oak and vanilla flavours yet fresh and stream-lined. Racy yet exotic. Lovely balance.

The nose has a floral charm the spring flowers backed by freshness. The palate is richer peaches and tropical fruits with the grapefruit and apple freshness coming through towards the back lifting the flavours.

Maybe I was a little hard on this when I tasted it in Bordeaux, because a subsequent sighting in London was more satisfactory. Not as good as the red, by any means, but the oak has settled into the wine over the last month, allowing its grapefruit and fresh herb flavours to express themselves. 3 + years.

Pale lemon-gold, richly aromatic for a Sauvignon-dominated wine that shows perfect ripeness of fruit. It has both breadth and depth of flavour and an exciting future.