2015 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc Pessac-Léognan Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note
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2015
Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc (Pessac-Léognan)
Honeysuckle, vanilla, yellow citrus peel and hints of orange fruits, there is left, energy and length here. The long, finish grabs you with its sweet, fresh, citrus, clay and tropical profile. Rich, long, fresh and expressive, this is just great and will only get better! 4,054 Views Tasted May 21, 2018A melange of orange yellow citrus fruits, with accents of lime, papaya, vanilla and floral scents on the nose are the first things you notice. Richly textured, with layers of citrus fruits, honeydew melon and hints of tropical fruits fill up your palate. The wine is vibrant, long, sweet and fresh. 3,933 Views Tasted Mar 12, 2018Bright, crisp, fresh, vibrant, yellow, citrus fruit with a hit of vanilla, flowers, stone and honey to complicate matters. Full bodied, round and lush, drink it young, or age it, either way, this is really quite nice. 4,352 Views Tasted Jul 11, 2017Ripe, vibrant, zesty citrus, honeysuckle and vanilla with a lingering touch of honey and vanilla bean in the finish, this wine leaves an enjoyable, lasting impression. The wine reached 13.75% ABV with a pH of 3.2. The wine was made from a blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris and 5% Semillon. The harvest took place from August 31 to September 19. 4,117 Views Tasted Apr 23, 2016 |
When to Drink Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte needs time before it begins to show its true character. Smith Haut Lafitte needs at least 8-10 years of aging in good vintages until it is ready to be enjoyed. Young vintages can be decanted for 2-3 hours or more. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume.
Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 12 and 30 years of age after the vintage.
Serving Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips
Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, and grilled dishes. Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is also good with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.
The white wine of Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is best served with a myriad of different seafood dishes, shellfish, crab, lobster, sushi, sashimi, chicken, pork, and veal, as well as Asian cuisine.
In July 2011, Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte purchased a majority of the vineyard property belonging to the neighboring estate, Chateau Le Thil. 11.6 hectares of vines and 8.2 hectares of verdant parkland went to Smith Haut Lafitte. Much of that land is located next to Smith Haut Lafitte and was actually part of the original estate that was owned by Lodi Duffour Dubergier.
In essence, this reunited the original vineyards. Le Thil belonged to his nephew, from whom the de Laitre family is descended. The remaining vineyard land was sold to Les Carmes Haut Brion.
In July 2014, the Cathiard family continues expanding their holdings in Bordeaux with the purchase of Chateau Beauregard in Pomerol and Bastor Lamontagne in Sauternes. They sold Bastor Lamontagne in 2019. The Pomerol and Sauternes properties were purchased in a partnership between the Moulin Family, the owners of the large, French chain of Galerie Lafayette stores, and the Cathiard Family.
In 2019, The Cathiard family continued expanding their holdings when they purchased Flora Springs in Napa Valley, in the Rutherford appellation. Floral Springs is a historic property, founded in 1885.