Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2023 red

Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2023 red

The Estate

Located in the heart of the Pessac-Léognan appellation, Château Smith Haut Lafitte is today one of the leading names among the Crus Classés of Bordeaux. The estate’s history dates back to 1365, when Verrier du Bosq planted a vineyard on this gravel land. In the 18th century, the property belonged to the British navigator George Smith, who gave it his name. Since 1990, Florence and Daniel Cathiard have owned this emblematic estate. Former members of the French ski team, they immediately fell in love with the vineyard and its exceptional terroir. Their ambition is clear: to reveal the estate’s full potential while respecting its identity. In just a few decades, their vision and energy have profoundly transformed the property and placed Château Smith Haut Lafitte at the forefront of sustainable viticulture. Today the vineyard covers 85 hectares, 74 of them devoted to red wines and 11 to white wines. The Günzian gravel soils provide ideal natural drainage and form a terroir perfectly suited to high-quality viticulture. The red vineyard is dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, at around 63%, complemented by Merlot (30%), Cabernet Franc (6%) and a small proportion of Petit Verdot. The white wines are based mainly on Sauvignon Blanc (90%), with Sémillon and Sauvignon Gris. One of the estate’s distinctive features is its own cooperage, created in 1994. The oak is selected from France’s great forests and the barrels are made on site by the master cooper, so that they are perfectly suited to the style of the wines. Combining a remarkable terroir, demanding viticulture and an innovative vision, Château Smith Haut Lafitte is today one of the benchmark estates of the Pessac-Léognan appellation.