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Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2012

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Pessac-Léognan
ColourWhite
TypeStill
Grape VarietySauvignon Blanc/Semillon

View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Smith Haut Lafitte

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Tasting Notes

The grand vin, the 2012 Smith Haut Lafitte, offers up lovely honeysuckle, orange marmalade, white peach, fig, and caramelized citrus notes. Medium to full-bodied, with great concentration and length, and a stunningly long finish, it should last for 20-25 years. Drink 2015-2040.

95
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (218), April 2015

Tasted blind at the Southwold 2012 tasting. The 2012 Smith-Haut-Lafitte Blanc has an intense bouquet with mint-fresh Granny Smith apple scents, quite exotic compared to its peers, greengage and gooseberry, a touch of tinned apricot. The palate is crisp and fresh on the entry with lime and gooseberry notes, the acidity well judged, a healthy veneer of new oak, but it is totally in sync with the fruit. Give this 4-5 years for everything to fully assimilate and you will have a splendid white Bordeaux. This is pure nectar. Tasted January 2016.

95
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com (227), October 2016

This is fabulous. It's a white that is so vertical with wonderful depth of fruit and structure. It goes on for minutes. Dense and complex. It's so structured and amazing. Peaches and mineral with a salty and savory character. It is captivating to taste now.

95/96
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2013

Slightly stinky Sauvignon aromas. Tight. Then it broadens and sweetens on the palate to something much richer and more distinctive. Just a little sugary but this is to split hairs.

16.5
Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2013

The white wine from this excellent property isn't quite as good as the red in 2012, but that's
partly a reflection of the high quality of the latter wine. This is still a special blend: leesy,
exotic and ripe, with hints of pineapple and stone fruit, a touch of tangerine and a broad,
textured finish.
Drink: 2014-20

92
Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2013
Read more tasting notes...

Under the capable hands of the Cathiard family, this property has been producing fabulous red and white wines. The 2012, another brilliant effort, exhibits notes of orange rind, figs, mangoes, pineapples and caramelized citrus presented in a full-bodied, heady, powerful style. It should drink well for 15-20 years.

93/95
Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (206), April 2013

Tasted from a barrel sample at en primeur. A blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Semillon and 5% Sauvignon Gris (the latter to increase the density of the wine), the 2012 has a well-defined bouquet with lime, fresh apple, apricot blossom and cold stone. The palate is very well balanced with fresh dewy green apples, lime and citrus peel. There is a slight resinous quality on the spicy/lemongrass finish imparted by the Sauvignon Gris, with very good length. This is an excellent wine. Tasted April 2013.

92/94
Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, May 2013
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.