Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte White 2016

Product info about Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte White 2016

Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2016 is the white grand vin from the estate in Martillac, in the Pessac-Léognan appellation. It is a dry white Bordeaux and a Grand Cru Classé de Graves, shaped by a 2016 growing season in which a warm, dry summer and cool nights helped the white grapes build aromatic definition.

The blend is led by sauvignon blanc, with sauvignon gris and sémillon adding further dimension. The grapes come from the château's own vineyards on a Günz gravel plateau, from vines with an average age listed at 48 years. Hand harvesting in small crates, careful pressing in a low-oxygen or neutral environment, fermentation in French oak barrels and 12 months on fine lees with bâtonnage all point to a wine made with precision rather than excess. The fact that the barrels are produced in the château's own cooperage adds another layer to that hands-on approach.

At Drankenshop Broekmans, this is the kind of white Bordeaux we like to present as more than a famous label. The 2016 vintage brings together ripe citrus and tropical fruit, freshness, texture and recognised ageing potential. Its strong critical reception, with several high scores from respected sources, reinforces the standing of the wine while leaving the glass to tell the more important part of the story.

With only the last bottles remaining, it is especially appealing for those who enjoy mature, serious white Bordeaux. It naturally belongs alongside refined fish dishes, shellfish, lobster, crab, langoustine, sushi, sashimi or white meat.

In the glass it is described as light to bright straw yellow. Aromatically, it moves through citrus and white to yellow fruit: lemon, pink grapefruit, lime, pear, green apple and white peach, with mango, pineapple and guava adding a more tropical side. Acacia, linden blossom and orange blossom bring lift, while honey, herbs, smoke, flint and wet stone add detail and a mineral edge.

The palate is fresh, concentrated and structured, combining ripe citrus and tropical fruit with clear acidity. Ageing on fine lees gives a creamy to satin-like texture, supported by subtle notes of cream, brioche, pie crust and macadamia. The finish is long, fresh, saline and mineral.