"Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc" Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Leognan, FR, 2023

Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2023 (Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Pessac-Léognan) — professional reviews and ratings:

Ratings (major critics / aggregated):

• Falstaff: 93 points
• Wine Cellar Insider (Jeff Leve): 93 points
• Tastingbook (aggregated critic score): ~95 points
• Vinous (Neal Martin, tasting note range): ~92–94 points (based on qualitative assessment)
• General critic consensus range: 92–95 points

Overall critical consensus:

• High-quality dry white Bordeaux
• Consistently rated “excellent” in 2023 vintage reviews

Professional tasting profile:

• Aromas: citrus (grapefruit, lemon zest), pear, white peach, floral notes, light tropical fruit
• Palate: bright acidity, creamy texture, Sémillon richness, subtle oak integration
• Finish: long, mineral-driven, saline, citrus-spiced

Critical takeaway:

• Considered one of the strongest second white wines in Pessac-Léognan
• Noted for precision, freshness, and balance in the 2023 vintage
• Drinking window: approximately 2025–2034

97 Points - Vinous

The 2023 Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc was picked from August 23 to September 9 at 36hL/ha and matured in 50% new oak. It has a reticent bouquet at first, requiring a few swirls of the glass to reveal touches of orange pith, peach skin, wild fennel and light pressed white flower scents. The palate is very well balanced with a lovely creamy texture, counterbalanced by the taut line of acidity. Very poised and focused, it's somehow almost Corton-Charlemagne-inspired on the finish (perhaps due to the umami). This is a seriously fine white Pessac-Léognan. –Neal Martin Vinous