Producer Profile
Château Smith Haut Lafitte
Château Smith Haut Lafitte is located in the heart of Pessac-Léognan on the Left Bank of the Garonne River. During the 1959 Classification of the Graves it was rated as Grand Cru Classé for its red wine. Now, the estate is also considered to produce one of the foremost examples of white Bordeaux.
For their Grand Vin, it consists of roughly 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, alongside Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. They age the wine in barrel for around 18 months, with approximately 60% new wood. For the white Grand Vin, it is dominated by Sauvignon Blanc – with about 5% each of Semillon and Sauvignon Gris. The wine is fermented and aged in barrel, resting on the lees for around a year. They also make ‘second wines’ under the label Le Petit Haut Lafitte, as well as ‘third wines’ Les Hauts de Smith.
They have 78 hectares of vineyards, all managed organically. They sit on a low hill, made up of stones and pebbles deposited by the Garonne River. This gravelly soil offers drainage, and reflects the sunshine amplifying its benefits to the vines and the fruit.
In 1958, the estate was purchased by the Louis Eschenauer Company, who invested heavily into the vineyards. It was then purchased by Florence and Daniel Cathiard in 1990. The Cathiard’s transformed the estate, cutting down on the use of chemicals and modernising the facilities, he completely reinvented the company.
In the past decade, the winery has been transformed by investment and renewed passion. They have developed their reputation through the production of vibrant, complex wines under the iconic label.
