98
VINUM: "Was für ein Duft, tiefgründig und komplex, florale und würzige Noten, Grapefruit, Mango; üppig am Gaumen, viel Druck, sehr gute Struktur, die Säure kontert die reife Frucht, wie immer ausbalanciert, mit viel Spannung und grossartiger Länge!"
97-
98
JAMES SUCKLING: "Another exceptional vintage for Smith-Haut-Lafite Blanc. It’s so complex and structured, offering a palate that feels similar to the texture of a red wine with a velvety tannin structure. There’s a lot going on here. Spice, crushed seashell and citrus blossom. Salty, too. Weightless and so long. 90% sauvignon blanc, 5% sauvignon gris and 5% semillon."
19
WEINWISSER: "90 % Sauvignon Blanc, 5 % Sémillon, 5 % Sauvignon Gris, 36 hl/ha. Vielschichtiges Bouquet, weiße Blüten, zarter Kreideton und Sternfrucht, dahinter weißer Pfeffer, Pomelo und Limonengras. Am komplexen Gaumen mit tänzerischer Rasse, stützender Mineralität und reifer feinpfeffriger Extraktfülle. Im gebündelten aromatischen Finale Weingartenpfirsich, Mango und Grapefruitzeste. Spielt in seiner eigenen Liga! Kellermeister Yann beschreibt den Wein: „Weiß in der Nase und gelb im Gaumen"!"
96
DECANTER: "Strong aromatics, on the expressive side with herbal accents, spiced wood, green apple, quince, apricot, mango, peach honeycomb and elderflower. Very floral. Fresh and expansive, mineral and direct, but a good body full of fruit, freshness and honey characters. Definitely more opulent and exotic than the others in the range with hints of tropical fruit - pineapple and mango but also some lovely bitterness which adds tension to balance it out. A good combination, more vibrancy and energy than in previous years. Succulent and sumptuous with salinity. Very good and very easy to drink. Ageing 50% new oak."
95-
97
JEB DUNNUCK: "One of the bigger, richer wines in the vintage, the light gold-hued 2023 Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc offers up a killer nose of orange blossom, honeyed citrus, toast, spice, and minty flowers. It's medium to full-bodied and has a richly textured, layered mouthfeel, bright acidity, and a great finish. It's probably the white of the vintage."
94-
96
THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Aromas of white fruits, crisp orchard fruits, spices, smoke, spring flowers and pear introduce the 2023 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc, a medium to full-bodied, layered and textured wine with a fleshy core of fruit and racy acids, concluding with a mineral, fresh and long finish highlighted by delicate notes of thyme and garrigue. Comprising 50% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sémillon and 5% Sauvignon Gris and matured in 50% new oak, this blend is among the finest white wines produced at this address."
95
FALSTAFF: "Helles Gelbgrün, silberfarbene Reflexe. Floral unterlegte feine weiße Tropenfrucht, ein Hauch von Guaven und Vanille, facettenreiches, delikates Bukett. Komplex, saftig, feine Nuancen von Stachelbeeren und Birnen, finessenreicher Säurebogen, straff, mineralisch und vielschichtig, zeigt Energie und Länge, tolle Balance."
94-
96
LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "A blend of 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Semillon, and 5% Sauvignon Gris, the white 2023 Smith Haut Lafitte is aging in 50% new oak. After a swirl or two, it prances out with gregarious notes of white peaches, fresh pineapple, and green mangoes, opening out to underlying hints of lime blossoms, wet slate, and fresh ginger. The medium-bodied palate is satiny and vivacious, with a racy backbone and a long, exotic fruit-laced finish. Yum!"
95
THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Orange cream, flowers, vanilla, pomelo, ginger, green apples, and a splash of pineapple hit the nose. Juicy, creamy, with sweetness, and balancing acidity giving the wine length, lift, and sweet citrus with a splash of spicy white peaches in the mid-palate, which carry through to the finish. The harvest took place August 25 - September 7. The wine blends 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Semillon, and 5% Sauvignon Gris. 14% ABV, 3.2 pH. Drink from 2025-2035."
17,5
JANCIS ROBINSON: "Initially discreet then opens to reveal floral, citrus and vanilla notes. Large on attack with plenty of succulent fruit, then drive and persistence on the finish. An extra edge of ripeness compared with many but freshness as well. Very much in the house style. Drink 2025 – 2032."
