Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2007

Bright, pale yellow. Knockout nose offers lemon drop, pineapple, white flowers and minerals. Dense, lush and sweet but leavened by piquant acidity; offers a rare combination of silky volume and inner-mouth energy and perfume. Lovely intensity of lemon and pineapple flavor. Finishes quite firm, even a bit youthfully bitter, but with terrific length and lift. I can't recall a more promising white wine from this property.

There is a broader feel to the nose fleshed out by the mix of greengage and pineapple. The palate is richer and there is a much greater depth and complexity. The sweetness of the fruit mix is well balanced by some freshness but there is a lovely richness coming through towards the finish.

Honeyed aromas. Sweet fruit, moderate acidity and quite noticeable oak. Easy, fresh, with some complexity. Honeyed and appealing. Fairly short term. Drink 2012-18. 3 stars.

This has an intense nose of lemon cheesecake, pineapple, mango and passion fruit. Superb definition. The palate is very well balanced and very powerful, good acidity and tension with vibrant fruits: lemon, grapefruit, passion fruit and a touch of nectarine. The Semillon/Savignon Gris really makes the wine. Great length this is lovely. (A second sample had just a little more spice on the finish but other than that similarly impressive as the château bottle.) Tasted April 2008.