Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2006

Another gorgeous white Graves from this vintage, this wine offers up notes of honeysuckle, lanolin, sweet citrus, and hints of orange peel as well as quince and white currants. It is medium to full-bodied, with fresh acidity, subtle nuances of smoky oak, and a long finish. It should drink well for 15 or more years. Drink 2009 - 2024

Tasted in London. A lovely, coconut tinged nose with a touch of cut lime and green apple is followed by an intense, apple-flavoured palate with zesty acidity, judicious use of new oak and a crisp, persistent finish. Superb.

I have been enjoying this numerous times this year and it underlines how SHL is clearly in the upper echelon of dry white wine producers in Bordeaux. The wine now shows gorgeous guava and mango character with hints of pineapple and a creamy undertone. It has layers of fruit that change all the time on the palate. The phenolic texture reminds you of a soft red wine but the look and flavors are uniquely Bordeaux. It's all sauvignon blanc and sauvignon vert. Drink now or enjoy in the future.

Pale greenish straw. Strong catty, mineral notes with some sweetness. Lime sherbet. Perhaps not the subtlest example and a little astringent but lots of fun. Off dry.

Bright yellow. Aromas of apricot, honey and resin. Dense, ripe and serious, with lovely volume and lift to the stone fruit and spice flavors. A very round, mouthcoating wine in which one can taste the 5% semillon component (the wine also contains 90% sauvignon blanc and 5% sauvignon gris). This tastes like lower acidity than the 2007, but there is no shortage of energy.