14% abv, Florence et Daniel Cathiard, Martillac, imported by United Wine & Spirits LLC, Houston, TX. Cork closure: natural. Biodynamic calendar: flower day.
Winemaking notes: 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris & 5% Sémillon from 48-year-old vines grown on gravel and clay soils. The grapes are hand-harvested and pressed, once the juice settles the wines if fermented in 50% new French oak barrows and 50% second-use barrels and aged on the lees for 12 months. The cooperage is conducted on site.
Tasting note: The Pessac-Léognan Blanc is pale gold in color with a clean nose of medium+ intensity with aromas of jasmine, oleander, custard, honey, lime, peach, toasted coconut shavings and mint. On the palate this wine is dry with medium acid, medium alcohol, medium body, pronounced flavor intensity and a long finish with flavors of jasmine, magnolia, pineapple, kaffir lime, white peach, tangerine, toasted coconut, flan, chestnut, marcona almond, tarragon and pineapple mint. This Sauvignon Blanc blend from the Graves region on the left bank of Bordeaux is very good: 9.3/10. The intensity, complexity and length on this wine is off the charts and of very high pedigree representing the exceptional terroir at Smith Haut Lafite, yet the overpowering use of new oak on this wine is evidently a strike against the wines balance, and I wish it had been handled more delicately. Will this age well? Perhaps, with time, the strong flavors of charred barrel and toasted coconut will wane, but I don’t know if waiting another 10 years or so would make enough difference to bring this wine into a balance, it’s just too hedonistic.