Château 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 Bordeaux nobleman, planted the first vines on this exceptional estate. The domain changed hands several times 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 the wines to England, thus contributing to their international renown.

In the mid-19th century, the estate gained in 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 rise among the great names of Bordeaux.

In the 1950s, the négociant house Louis Eschenauer acquired the château and modernized 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 under the spell of the estate and purchased it. Their goal: to perpetuate the tradition of excellence while introducing innovative techniques. After three years of renovation work, they established their residence at the heart of the vineyard and fully committed themselves to managing the estate, surrounded by a talented team.

Since then, Château Smith Haut Lafitte has established itself as an unmissable benchmark, 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 a score of 100/100 from Robert Parker, while the 2010, 2005 and 2016 red vintages, 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 at the heart of the Pessac-Léognan appellation, on a naturally drained knoll covered with Gunzian Graves — semi-precious pebbles and stones deposited by the Garonne millions of years ago. These graves offer two unique characteristics: exceptional drainage that drives the vine roots deep into the soil, and a "mirror effect" that reflects sunlight to accelerate the ripening of the grapes. This exceptional terroir imparts characteristic smoky aromas to the estate's wines, which are the hallmark of the Graves.

The vineyard, covering an area of 80 hectares, is divided into two main sections: 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, receive meticulous attention through 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 embraces the principles of biodynamic farming, 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 while respecting the environment.

Winemaking at Château Smith Haut Lafitte

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

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

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

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 Fine Wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. This red wine is renowned for its elegance, its power and its aromas of ripe fruit, tobacco and cedar. On the palate, it combines structure and finesse, with silky tannins and a persistent finish. It is a wine of great aging 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 from Bordeaux. It stands out for its freshness, purity and aromatic complexity, with notes of exotic fruits, citrus and a hint of spice. Its structure on the palate is dense yet crystalline, with a long and vibrant finish.

Les Hauts de Smith Red and White

The estate's second wines, Les Hauts de Smith in red and white, come from the same plots as the Grand Wines, but with a more accessible and immediate approach. The red is fruity, supple and indulgent, while the white offers notes of citrus and white flowers with a lovely vivacity. These wines are perfect for a more relaxed tasting experience while retaining the hallmark of the Smith Haut Lafitte terroir.

Le Petit Haut Lafitte Red and White

The estate's third wine, Le Petit Haut Lafitte, is more approachable than the Fine Wine, with a fruitier and more floral character. These cuvées nonetheless retain the Château's signature with rich aromas and a beautiful structure.

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

Explore the full range of Grands Crus Classés of Graves, an appellation renowned for the diversity and quality of its wines. At the top of the list, the Premier Grand Cru Classé of 1855, Château Haut-Brion of Pessac-Léognan, is a historic benchmark. For red and white wines, estates such as Château Bouscaut, Château Carbonnieux, Château Malartic-Lagravière, Château Olivier, Château Latour-Martillac and Domaine de Chevalier offer outstanding cuvées. On the red side, 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 lovers 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 at the heart of the Graves region.

Château Smith Haut Lafitte embodies the excellence of the Grands Crus of Bordeaux. Through 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 lover of red or white wines, every cuvée from Château Smith Haut Lafitte is a true invitation to discover the very best of the Bordeaux terroir.