Château Smith Haut Lafitte – Les Hauts de Smith Blanc 2016 – Pessac-Léognan Bordeaux France

Les Hauts de Smith Blanc 2016 is a crisp, expressive dry white from Château Smith Haut Lafitte, combining pure Sauvignon Blanc fruit with tension, freshness, and smoky Graves character.

🍷 At a Glance

• Grape(s): 100% Sauvignon Blanc
• Region / Appellation: Pessac-Léognan, Bordeaux, France
• Vintage: 2016
• Aging: 10 months on the lees with bâtonnage; fermented in French oak barrels, 50% new
• Special Note: From the young vines of Château Smith Haut Lafitte; yield 30 hl/ha before final wine selection
• Style: Dry white Bordeaux; crisp, fresh, aromatic, and long

👃 Tasting Notes & Experience

Pale and brilliant, the 2016 is fresh, expressive, and vivacious. Grapefruit, lemon, and citron lead into white peach, white nectarine, and acacia blossom. The palate is crisp and direct, with excellent tension and balance around ripe fruit, finishing long, fresh, and aromatic with subtle spice, floral notes, and a smoky Graves nuance.

❤️ Why We Love It

• 100% Sauvignon Blanc gives the wine clarity, citrus lift, and aromatic precision
• Ten months on lees with bâtonnage adds texture while preserving tension and freshness
• It is made from the estate’s young vines and vinified with the same production care used for Château Smith Haut Lafitte

🍽️ Food Pairing Ideas

• Oysters, scallops, or crab
• Grilled sea bass, turbot, or halibut
• Roast chicken with lemon and herbs

👤 Who This Wine Is For

✓ Sauvignon Blanc drinkers who enjoy structured, barrel-fermented whites
✓ Fans of dry white Bordeaux with citrus, mineral tension, and subtle smoke
✓ Drinkers looking for freshness and aromatic intensity with bottle development
✕ Not ideal if you prefer simple, unoaked, very light white wines

Vinous (Antonio Galloni): 93 points
James Suckling (En Primeur): 93–94 points
Robert Parker / Lisa Perrotti-Brown (En Primeur): 90–92 points