COLOUR
Red
TYPE
Still
VINTAGE
2020
GRAPE
Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
PRODUCER
Château Smith Haut Lafitte
REGION
Bordeaux
CHARACTERISTICS
Body
Medium - Full
Sweetness
Dry
Acidity
Medium - High
Finish
Medium - Long
Intensity
Mid - Pronounced
Tannins
AROMAS & FLAVOURS
ABOUT THIS WINE
Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte is the elegant second wine of Château Smith Haut Lafitte, a historic Grand Cru Classé estate in Pessac-Léognan. Owned by Daniel and Florence Cathiard since 1990, the estate has become a pioneer in organic and biodynamic viticulture in Bordeaux. This wine is crafted with the same meticulous care as the Grand Vin, sourced from younger vines grown on the estate's gunzian gravel soils. It offers an accessible yet sophisticated expression of the Pessac-Léognan terroir, balancing classic Bordeaux structure with vibrant fruit.
ALCOHOL
14.5%
AVG. PRICE
€40
STYLE
Classic
SULPHITES
YES
When to drink
Now or Later
Ideal temperature
16-18°C
INTERESTING FACTS
Fact 01
Château Smith Haut Lafitte is one of the very few Bordeaux estates to have its own cooperage on-site to craft and toast its barrels.
Fact 02
Owners Daniel and Florence Cathiard are former professional skiers who completely revitalized the estate starting in 1990.
Fact 03
The estate practices 'bio-precision', combining organic farming with high-tech tools like satellite imaging to monitor vine health.
FOOD PAIRING
Read more
WINE MAKING PROCESS
The grapes are harvested by hand into small crates and sorted twice (before and after destemming) using optical sorting technology. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled wooden vats. The wine is aged for 14 months in French oak barrels (typically 20% new oak) crafted in the estate's own cooperage, allowing for precise control over the oak influence and integration.
