Smith Haut Lafitte

History of Château Smith Haut Lafitte

The history of Château Smith Haut Lafitte dates back to 1365, when Verrier Du Bosq, a nobleman from Bordeaux, planted the first vines on this exceptional property. The estate had several owners over the centuries, but it was in the 18th century that its destiny changed radically with the acquisition by George Smith, a Scottish merchant. Smith, in addition to giving his name to the estate, built the Chartreuse and began exporting wines to England, thus contributing to their international renown.

In the mid-19th century, the estate gained prestige under the direction of Lodi Martin Duffour-Dubergier, mayor of Bordeaux and signatory of the famous 1855 classification. He elevated Château Smith Haut Lafitte to the rank of "Exceptional Grand Cru", a distinction that marked the beginning of the estate's ascent among the great names of Bordeaux.

In the 1950s, the Louis Eschenauer trading house acquired the château and modernised its facilities, ensuring the distribution of its wines throughout the world. However, it was in 1990 that Florence and Daniel Cathiard, former high-level athletes, fell in love with the estate and acquired it. Their objective: to perpetuate the tradition of excellence whilst introducing innovative techniques. After three years of work, they installed their residence at the heart of the vineyard and fully invested themselves in the management of the estate, surrounded by a talented team.

Since then, Château Smith Haut Lafitte has established itself as an essential reference, not only thanks to the quality of its wines but also through its strong commitment to the environment and biodiversity.

The 2009 red vintage of Château Smith Haut Lafitte received 100/100 from Robert Parker, while the 2010, 2005 and 2016 reds, as well as the 2009 and 2005 whites, received 98/100, illustrating the elegance and depth of this Pessac-Léognan cru.

Terroirs and Vines of Château Smith Haut Lafitte

The terroir of Château Smith Haut Lafitte is located in the heart of the Pessac-Léognan appellation, on a naturally drained hillock covered with Gunzian Graves, semi-precious pebbles and stones deposited by the Garonne millions of years ago. These gravel soils offer two unique characteristics: exceptional drainage that pushes the roots of the vines to draw deeply into the soil, and a "mirror effect" that reflects sunlight to accelerate the ripening of the grapes. This exceptional terroir gives the estate's wines characteristic smoky aromas, which are the hallmark of Graves wines.

The vineyard, covering an area of 80 hectares, is divided into two main parts: 67 hectares are dedicated to red grape varieties (60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot), while 13 hectares are reserved for white grape varieties (90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris and 5% Sémillon). The vines, with an average age of 38 years, benefit from meticulous attention with viticultural practices that respect both tradition and innovation.

Committed to sustainable viticulture, Château Smith Haut Lafitte obtained Organic Agriculture certification in 2019 after three years of conversion. The estate also adopts the principles of biodynamic agriculture, using medicinal plants such as horsetail and yarrow, grown on site and used to prevent vine diseases. This approach improves the quality of the soil and grapes, whilst respecting the environment.

Vinification at Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Château Smith Haut Lafitte combines traditional techniques and technological innovations to guarantee optimal quality of its wines. The harvest is done manually, with a meticulous sorting of the bunches to select only those that have reached perfect maturity. The estate has implemented a gravity-fed system, thus avoiding any pumping and preserving the integrity of the grape berries during transfer to the vats.

For the vinification of red wines, the process begins with cold maceration before fermentation in whole bunches in temperature-controlled oak vats. Malolactic fermentation is carried out in new barrels, which allows for the development of rich and complex aromas. The red wines are then aged on lees for 16 to 18 months in 60% new French oak barrels, largely produced by the estate's cooperage.

For white wines, fermentation takes place in oak barrels without skin contact, to preserve the freshness and finesse of the aromas. The ageing lasts about 12 months on fine lees with stirring, in half new oak barrels. This process gives the white wines exceptional aromatic complexity and richness.

The cuvées of Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Château Smith Haut Lafitte offers a range of cuvées that reflect the diversity of its terroir and the quality of its grape varieties.

Château Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge - Grand Cru Classé de Graves

The estate's Grand Vin is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This red wine is renowned for its elegance, power and aromas of ripe fruits, tobacco and cedar. On the palate, it combines structure and finesse, with silky tannins and a persistent finish. It is a wine with great ageing potential, capable of maturing for several decades.

Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc

This white wine, made primarily from Sauvignon Blanc, is one of the greatest whites in Bordeaux. It is distinguished by its freshness, purity and aromatic complexity, with notes of exotic fruits, citrus and a spicy touch. Its structure on the palate is dense but crystalline, with a long and vibrant finish.

Les Hauts de Smith Rouge and Blanc

The estate's second wines, Les Hauts de Smith in red and white, come from the same plots as the Grand Vins, but with a more accessible and immediate approach. The red is fruity, supple and delicious, while the white offers notes of citrus and white flowers with a beautiful liveliness. These wines are perfect for more casual tasting whilst retaining the imprint of the Smith Haut Lafitte terroir.

Le Petit Haut Lafitte Rouge and Blanc

Third wine of the estate, Le Petit Haut Lafitte is more easily accessible than the Grand Vin, with a fruitier and more floral approach. These cuvées nevertheless retain the signature of the Château with rich aromas and a beautiful structure.

The vintages of Graves and Pessac-Léognan, two Bordeaux appellations, stand out for their consistent quality. The years 1975, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989 and 1990 are particularly prized for their finesse and balance. The vintages 1998, 2000, 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2010 are equally remarkable for their structure and ageing potential. More recently, the vintages 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 confirm this continuing excellence, with wines offering both elegance and longevity.

Explore all the Grands Crus Classés de Graves, an appellation renowned for the diversity and quality of its wines. At the top of the list, the First Growth of 1855, Château Haut-Brion of Pessac-Léognan, is a historical reference. For red andwhite wines, estates such as Château Bouscaut, Château Carbonnieux, Château Malartic-Lagravière, Château Olivier, Château Latour-Martillac and Domaine de Chevalier offer interesting cuvées. For reds, you can discover the wines of Château Fieuzal, Château Haut-Bailly, Château Latour Haut-Brion, Château La Mission Haut-Brion, Château Pape-Clément and Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte. White wine enthusiasts can turn to the productions of Château Couhins, Château Couhins Lurton and Château Laville Haut-Brion. These estates offer you a wide range of wines to discover in the heart of the Graves region.

Château Smith Haut Lafitte embodies the excellence of the Grands Crus of Bordeaux. Thanks to rigorous vineyard management, precision winemaking and a commitment to the environment, the wines produced here are both faithful to tradition and resolutely modern. Whether you are a fan of red or white wines, each cuvée from Château Smith Haut Lafitte is a true invitation to discover the best of the Bordeaux terroir.