Smith Haut Lafitte

Grand cru - Pessac-Léognan

Château Smith Haut Lafitte, is a 67-hectare wine estate located in Martillac. Classé grand cru in the classification of Graves wines (AOC Pessac-Léognan), the château Smith Haut Lafitte is owned by Daniel Cathiard. The production is 200,000 bottles of red wine, and 50,000 whites per year. Bought out in 1990 by Daniel Cathiard - one of the greatest in distribution who sold his business (Eschenauer trading house), the château Smith Haut Lafitte has refined its improvements, both technically and in terms of working methods. The first major evolution was felt with the 1991 vintage, which was difficult due to spring frosts. It should be noted, however, that the wine's aromas now borrow from wood while the structure has become "Americanized". A marketing choice.

Unique compared to most of the great Bordeaux vineyards, Smith Haut Lafitte is subdivided into 140 small plots. The best part of the vineyard is located in the centre, on the gravelly plateau of Smith Haut Lafitte, whose maximum altitude is 40 metres.

Château Smith Haut Lafitte offers for tasting a red wine composed of several grape varieties:

• Cabernet Sauvignon 55%
• Merlot 35%
• Cabernet Franc 9%
• Petit Verdot 1%

For the red grapes, the terroir is made up of deep gravel with the upper surface covered with small quartz pebbles. Below, there is sand and limestone in their soil, with gentle slopes.

For Smith Haut Lafitte's Bordeaux white wine, they have 11 hectares planted as follows:

• Sauvignon Blanc 90%
• Sauvignon Gris 5%
• Semillon 5%

The white grapes are planted just behind the château and to the north. There you will find more clay and limestone in the soil for white wine grapes. The microclimate for these grapes is a little cooler.

The vines are on average 38 years old for both grape varieties.

At Smith Haut Lafitte, all work in the vineyard is organic and self-sufficient. In fact, a large part of the farming techniques employed are based on biodynamic farming techniques. Fabien Teitgen, technical director of all Cathiard properties is an integral part of the success of their estate. Michel Rolland and Stéphane Derenoncourt, consultants, also have something to do with this success.

For the vinification of the red wine of Smith Haut Lafitte, after sorting and cold pre-fermentation maceration, the grapes are fermented as whole berries in 30 large temperature-controlled oak vats with a capacity ranging from 60 hectolitres to 100 hectolitres. Smith Haut Lafitte's Bordeaux red wine is aged on lees for the first few months of maturation in 60% to 70% new French oak barrels on average for 16 to 18 months.

In order to produce Smith Haut Lafitte's white wine, the grapes are whole berries fermented using a pneumatic press. The vinification is done in French oak barrels. The wines are aged on fine lees for 12 months with stirring. Smith Haut Lafitte's Bordeaux white wine is aged in 50% new French oak barrels for an average of 12 months before bottling.

Château Smith Haut Lafitte produces 2 second wines for their red wine. "Les Hauts de Smith" is made from an average blend of 55% Merlot and 45% Cabernet Sauvignon. "Le Petit Haut Lafitte" is made from an average blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot.

The best vintages of Château Smith Haut Lafitte red:  2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2005 and 2000

The best vintages of Smith Haut Lafitte white: 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006 and 2005.

Order online the prestigious bottles of Smith Haut Lafitte on Comptoir des Millésimes.