2012 Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac Leognan Blanc

2012 Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac Leognan Blanc

Normally one would have used Bordeaux stemware for Bordeaux wines, however, I do have respect for Smith Haut Lafitte’s blanc, as I think they produce very good quality whites, thus I took a Grassl Cru and Liberte to do a heads on comparsion. Obviously, using Cru (a big bowl burgundy glass) caused the flavor to be dispersed, while Liberte retained all the great flavor of this white, and also more focused. The bouquet was very Bordeaux driven: oily with very faint lemon zest. Content was really stunning, multi dimensional fruits and many shades of flavor, very long finishing. Perhaps the not so obvious weakness was the lack of lively acidity, as the acidity was acting on the background, but that’s definitive character of Bordeaux whites.

12 Nov 2015
SUMMER FLOWERS I swear by my palette that Smith Haut Lafitte produces one of the best whites in Pessac Leognan, and many wine critics like Steven Spurrier or Jancis Robinson concurred with my view. The 2012 version was really intense. Nose of light grapefruit, followed by intense summer flowers and lily totally dominated the glass. Palette was very intense as well, very concentrated, rich and creamy. Thoroughly enjoying this wine this afternoon with the owners.

14 Apr 2015
UNION DE GRAND CRU 2012
Was at UGC 2012 a couple of weeks ago to taste all the Bordeaux 2012 wines. Will start off with white first. Show of the day for white was Domaine de Chevalier Blanc.
This is a really up and coming vineyard, producing some astonishing reds and whites. 2012 was quite successful, forest floor, big lemon on the nose. Very good flavor, still very tight and tannic, woody and oaky still, but with good potential.