2017 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc

The 2017 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is very clearly one of the wines of the vintage. Rich, voluptuous and creamy, the 2017 has so much to offer. Citrus peel, white flowers and mint are all generous in the glass. More than that, the 2017 offers an interplay of tension and textural opulence that is incredibly appealing. The blend is 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sémillon and 5% Sauvignon Gris.

The 2017 Blanc prances out of the glass with pretty, cheerful scents of fresh green apples, lemongrass, lime leaves and white peaches plus spicy touches of fresh ginger, coriander seed and white pepper. Medium-bodied, the palate has fantastic intensity and tension, with a racy backbone cutting through the tightly knit citrus and spice layers, finishing long and mineral laced.

The 2017 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc has a really enticing bouquet with Granny Smith apples, Mirabelle, freshly sliced pear and light, flinty aromas. There is plenty of energy here, perhaps even more than the following vintage. The palate is medium-bodied with pretty orange rind and tangerine notes on the entry. This is very focused and full of tension, the finish quite saline with impressive persistency.