Château Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan blanc 2021

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

A flagship property in Martillac for the quality of its facilities and its openness to wine tourism with the superb Sources de Caudalie establishment (5-star hotel-spa and two-Michelin-starred restaurant, La Grand'Vigne), Smith Haut-Lafitte is also a pioneering vineyard in its category for its viticultural philosophy, which Daniel Cathiard describes as bio-precision, the aim being to combine the best of nature with the best of science. Florence and Daniel Cathiard, who acquired the property in 1991, can be proud of the work accomplished on the 78 hectares of vineyards. Respect for the terroir, precise winemaking, integrated cooperage, dynamic communication: in just a quarter of a century, the Cathiards have become part of the Bordeaux legend! The wines have found their true personality: no more woody excesses, they are now racy, perfectly expressing their terroir and bursting with energy. Hauts-de-smith and le-petit-haut-de-smith receive the same attention as the grand vin, and it shows!

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

If the timidity of the straw yellow color reflects the difficulty of the vintage, the bouquet, more expressive with pretty notes of white flowers, lemon, peach, almond and toast, shows that this obstacle has been well overcome. This impression is confirmed by a palate as broad as it is long, stimulated and elongated by a beautiful freshness. 2025 - 2033

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the domain :

The Cathiards are a success story in the French wine industry. After buying the estate in 1990, they turned it towards a quality approach, both in the vineyard and in the cellar, and established it as a top-of-the-range business - including the creation of a vinotherapy center. Like a growing number of châteaux, Smith Haut-Lafitte has adopted a "bio-organic" approach, using organic anti-botrytis agents, massal selections, horse-drawn ploughing, composting...

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the domain :

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

This estate has come a long way since Florence and Daniel Cathiard bought it in 1990. From a ruined cru classé and a virtually abandoned vineyard, these two neo-winegrowers, trained in the school of supermarket distribution in the case of the former and in communications in the case of the latter, have made a name for themselves. Firstly, to produce a wine that is undoubtedly among the elite of Bordeaux production, and secondly, to make Smith Haut-Lafitte an essential stopover for wine tourism. If the wines were at first a little too mature and woody, their style has been greatly refined over the last ten years. The texture of the reds, the measure of extractions and the more delicate tannic masses are all part of a more contemporary, less demonstrative taste. The whites have also followed this trend, with the influence of ageing much less pronounced in recent vintages. Smith Haut-Lafitte wines are enjoying international success and strong price growth.

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

Barrel sample. Fresh, crisp but with intensity and a ripe texture, this wine is the star of this vintage's white wines. It's tight, with minerality and acidity. Pink grapefruit and a dynamic texture reveal its concentration. This will be a great wine from a great white wine vintage.

James Suckling

About the wine:

This wine has great depth and power, with complex notes of gunflint, oyster shell, white pepper, dried mango, lemon, papaya, apricot stone and chalk. Medium- to full-bodied. Bright, but creamy. So long and concentrated. Just wait and see... 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Semillon, 5% Sauvignon Gris. Organically grown grapes.

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is beautifully elegant, complex and classically elegant, with a lovely multi-layered intensity. There are notes of lemon, tart green apple and, more slightly, zest, combined with touches of crunchy berries and a subtle hint of fresh oak and menthol. The palate is fruity, with juiciness, freshness, good definition, a wide range of aromas, gourmandise with finesse, an acidic structure, a delicate/fine/airy texture, energy, purity and a touch of crystalline. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy/juicy green apple, lemon and, more lightly, yuzu, combined with hints of exotic berries, a subtle hint of fresh pineapple, fresh flowers, a discreet hint of tangy mandarin, a subtle hint of toast, almond, a discreet hint of gunflint, fresh mirabelle plum, verbena, cape gooseberry, a subtle hint of smoke and vanilla. Good length. A discreet hint of good bitters on the finish/persistence.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

Green apples, pineapple, flowers, vanilla, lemon chiffon and orange blossom invade the nose. Energetic, crisp, fresh, clean and pure, it offers a fabulous explosion on the palate thanks to all the layers of sweet yet vibrant fruit. The touch of peppery spice on the finish adds another dimension. Drink between 2023 and 2035.

Tastingbook - Markus Del Monego

About the wine:

Bright yellow with green highlights. Expressive, complex nose of ripe fruit, juicy pear, sweet peach, grapefruit zest, candied lemon peel, hints of basil and aromatic herbs, vanilla and sweet spices, with very subtle oak in the background. On the palate, excellent structure and depth, a great wine with enormous length, reminiscent of the flavor on the nose.