Château Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac Léognan Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2020

The 2023 En Primeur got a slightly higher score in my SHL white tastings this year, but for the Wines of the Year, I try to prioritise ones that you can actually get hold of and drink over the festive season, and this remains an exceptional choice. It’s a wine that I just love to share, with its citrus grip that softens to creamy, fleshy stone fruits, with plenty of textural interest. Nectarine, white mango, gunsmoke, white pepper, sage, mouthwatering and keeps you coming back for more. 29hl/ha yield, 50% new oak barrels for ageing, with a few months back in stainless steel tanks before bottling. Harvest August 20 to September 9, one of the earliest on record. Certified organic as of 2019 in the vineyard, fully biodynamic farming as of this 2020 vintage. Technical director Fabien Teitgen.