Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2015

Rich cedary nose. Spicy and mealy and still bright with citrus fruit. Gorgeous and balanced. Full and long. (JH) 14%Drink 2018-2028

I was able to taste the 2015 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc twice and it showed beautifully on both occasions. Based on 90% Sauvignon Blanc and the balance Sémillon and Sauvignon Gris, aged in plenty of new wood, this ripe, sexy 2015 knocks it out of the park with its citrus oil, caramelized lemons, tangerine and honeysuckle aromatics. This palate doesn’t lose a beat either and is full-bodied and concentrated, with vibrant acidity and blockbuster length. I’d drink bottles over the coming 10-15 years, yet I suspect it will keep longer. It’s in the top 2-3 whites of the vintage. 2018 - 2033

The mix of citrus fruits is fresh the nose bright but it fills out in the middle rich ripe pineapple a hint of apricot the sweet fruit underpinned by lime freshness. Light and floral on the back palate the finish long with a mix of fresh fruits.

Picked over a period of three weeks to achieve extra complexity, this is a delicious whiteblend, combining stone fruit opulence with saline acidity, smoky oak and mouth-coatingtexture. It’s at the riper end of the spectrum in 2015, but has plenty of freshness, too.Drink: 2017-30

It is a star. More luxurious and much finer than the others, this is outstanding, silky and suave with incredible energy and moments of tender citrus fruit among the power and pomp.

Composed of 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sémillon and 5% Sauvignon Gris, the Smith Haut Lafitte 2015 Blanc has an incredibly compelling nose of ripe apricots, passion fruit, honeyed lemons and crushed stones with a hint of lime blossoms. Medium-bodied, super intense and super minerally, the palate sings of stone fruit and citrus layers with plenty of zip and zing, finishing with incredible persistence, alluring fruitiness and a savory contrast that will keep you reaching for another glass. 2020 - 2037

The Smith-Haut-Lafitte 2015 Blanc has a very subtle, nuanced bouquet at first that demands more coaxing, but eventually it offers lovely citrus peel, linden, wet stone and yellow flower scents that gather momentum with aeration. The palate is very well balanced with beautifully integrated new oak. It is a more discrete style of Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc compared to recent vintages, a wine that will repay those with the patience to give this two or more years in bottle. Very sophisticated. Anticipated maturity: 2022 - 2035.

The 2015 Smith-Haut-Lafitte Blanc is a blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris and 5% Sauvignon Blanc matured in 50% new oak. It has a crisp, conservative bouquet, tightly wound at first, reticent even, though with a couple of minutes' swirling, it reveals intense fresh lime flower, pink grapefruit, guava and blood orange scents. The palate is extremely well balanced with a silver bead of acidity, a dab of sour lemon than cleanses the mouth, followed by pink grapefruit, citrus lemon and green apple notes towards the long finish. This is another outstanding white Smith-Haut-Lafitte from winemaker Fabien Tietgen and the famille Cathiard.

A beautiful white with pretty density and richness. Bright and clear with intense aromas and flavors of lilacs and stones. Some violet. Full and bright. Firm phenolic tension. Bright acidity.