1997 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc

This was technical director Fabien Teitgen’s second vintage at Smith Haut Lafitte, and he says that 1997 had the most stressful conditions he can remember over his entire 20 years at the property. This has a distinctive briney, oystershell quality to the attack that brings huge complexity and persistency, and the beeswax and jasmine are again evident, but this will divide drinkers more than the 2007. It really does hold on through the palate, and the citrus character comes through on the finish.