2024 Ch Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc, Pessac-Léognan

DUE OCT/NOV 2027

Minerals, smoke, tarragon and bright lemons on the nose. An almost full-bodied, textured white that delivers lots of freshness, weight and brightness on the palate. There is attractive salinity at the end before a long yet broad finish. 90% sauvignon blanc, 5% semillon and 5% sauvignon gris.

97-98 points jamessuckling.com

A gorgeous aromatic blossom of white peaches, peach pit, sage, apple blossom, soft clove and white truffle spices, gentle lift through the palate, a wonderfully fragrant, generous but finessed Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc, with so much depth and length. 50% new oak for ageing, harvest August 29 to September 13, 3.2ph. Energy maintained through the palate, up there with one of the whites of the vintage.

95 points janeanson.com

Floral and complex, the 2024 Blanc from Smith Haut Lafitte offers up aromas of white peach, apricot, spices and spring blossoms. Medium-bodied, round and layered, it's sappy and seamless with an incisive mid-palate and a long, ethereal and refreshing finish. Matured in 50% new oak, this blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sémillon and 5% Sauvignon Gris represents a strong effort.

92-94 points robertparker.com

This is a biodynamic showpiece and one of Bordeaux’s most expressive and age-worthy dry whites. Crafted from roughly 90% Sauvignon Blanc, with small additions of Sauvignon Gris and Sémillon, it’s fermented and aged in 50% new French oak barrels, yet remains electric and pure.

The nose is thrilling: grapefruit zest, lemon blossom, white peach, and crushed oyster shell, with a faint smoky flint edge. The palate is racy and vibrant, with chalky tension and a wave of citrus and white stone fruit. There’s a saline, mineral thread running right through it — utterly precise and long. It’s the kind of wine that reminds you why the world is paying more attention to Bordeaux blanc.

Cellar potential: 2027–2040+
Style: Intense, vibrant, mineral-driven
Food pairing: Lobster with citrus beurre blanc, seared scallops, or goat cheese tart with herbs.