1998 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc
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Tasting notes
Showing beautifully, the 1998 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc offers up a vivid medium gold hue as well as terrific aromatics of caramelized citrus, limes, honeyed melon, and crushed stones. With medium to full-bodied richness on the palate, it has a concentrated, textured mouthfeel, bright acidity, impeccable balance, and a great finish. This shows why you age these wines, and it just sings on the dinner table. I've no doubt it will continue evolving gracefully going forward, but I don't see any upside here and would enjoy bottles over the coming 5+ years or so.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
(No tasting note given)
Bright, spicy, floral aroma of pineapple and lemon skin. Musky, focused and intensely flavored; strong pineapple fruit supported by a powerful spine of acidity. Not thick but quite penetrating and uncompromising. Interesting wine.
About the producer
Ch. Smith Haut Lafitte is one of the leading lights of Pessac-Léognan today – all thanks to Daniel and Florence Cathiard, who took over the property in 1990 and have since transformed the estate, converting to biodynamics and crafting wines of increasing finesse.