1990 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc
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Tasting notes
Daniel and Florence Cathiard's first vintage. The vineyard needed a lot of work on arrival, and this is on the tawny side colour-wise, with smoked earth and sharp fennel notes, soy, umami, iron, just skirting full ripeness, although there is charm here, and it is not entirely giving up the ghost. The estate was purchased at the end of 1990, just after harvest, so all they could do was carry out severe sorting, meaning only around 30% of production in the 1st wine. Small amount of new oak, around 20%.
Critic scores
Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
About the producer
Ch. Smith Haut Lafitte is one of the leading lights of Pessac-Léognan today – all thanks to Daniel and Florence Cathiard, who took over the property in 1990 and have since transformed the estate, converting to biodynamics and crafting wines of increasing finesse.