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Tasting Notes

Tasting notes
Score 17/20 · FINE+RARE

Very clean on the nose with prominent grassy notes and plenty of depth. Quite full bodied with some oiliness of texture and plenty of juicy, succulent fruit. Balanced, concentrated and delicious. FINE+RARE

Critic Scores

Critic scores
95
95/100

Average Score

96
95-96/100

James Suckling

17
17/20

FINE+RARE

More reviews and scores

95 - 96 points
James Suckling
Score 95-96/100 · James Suckling

This is fabulous. It’s a white that is so vertical with wonderful depth of fruit and structure. It goes on for minutes. Dense and complex. It’s so structured and amazing. Peaches and mineral with a salty and savory character. It is captivating to taste now. James Suckling, jamessuckling.com

95 points
Robert Parker
Score 95/100 · Robert Parker

The grand vin, the 2012 Smith Haut Lafitte, offers up lovely honeysuckle, orange marmalade, white peach, fig, and caramelized citrus notes. Medium to full-bodied, with great concentration and length, and a stunningly long finish, it should last for 20-25 years.| eRobertParker.com.April, 2015

95 points
Neal Martin
Score 95/100 · Neal Martin

Tasted blind at the Southwold 2012 tasting. The 2012 Smith-Haut-Lafitte Blanc has an intense bouquet with mint-fresh Granny Smith apple scents, quite exotic compared to its peers, greengage and gooseberry, a touch of tinned apricot. The palate is crisp and fresh on the entry with lime and gooseberry notes, the acidity well judged, a healthy veneer of new oak, but it is totally in sync with the fruit. Give this 4-5 years for everything to fully assimilate and you will have a splendid white Bordeaux. This is pure nectar. Tasted January 2016. Oct 2016, www.robertparker.com

About the producer

Château Smith Haut Lafitte 1:1
Smith Haut Lafitte

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.

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