2023 Château Smith Haut-Lafitte Le Petit Haut Lafitte Rouge

The 2023 Le Petit Haut Lafitte reveals fresh and dark aromas of licorice, smoke, dark wild berries, and violets. Medium to full-bodied, it is more structured and serious than Les Hauts de Smith, with a layered, textured mid-palate, a fleshy fruit core, and a long, salty, chalky finish. Classically blended from 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, it is aged in 30% new oak barrels.

Ratings: 94-95 James Suckling, 93 Jane Anson, 93 Falstaff Magazine, 93 Markus del Monego, 92-95 Vinous (A. Galloni), 92-94 Jeb Dunnuck, 91-93 Vinous (N. Martin), 91-93 The Wine Independent (L. Perrotti-Brown), 90-92 Wine Advocate

ABOUT SMITH HAUT LAFITTE

Château Smith Haut Lafitte is a Grand Cru Classé estate within the Pessac-Léognan appellation that needs little to no introduction. The wines from this estate captivate many winemakers and critics, and the versatility of this remarkable terroir is to be celebrated. It is one of the few estates in Bordeaux that produces red, white, and rosé wines of outstanding quality. The property boasts a long history in Bordeaux, dating back over 800 years. It was originally part of the Du Bosq estate in the Graves region. The Du Bosqs were the first to plant vines on the Lafitte gravel plateau in 1365. The property was purchased in 1720 by a man named George Smith, who named it after himself, thus giving Château Smith Haut Lafitte its name. The property is currently owned by Daniel and Florence Cathiard. The Cathiards purchased Château Smith Haut Lafitte in 1990, and that is when the true story of this estate begins.

Before the Cathiards' involvement, Château Smith Haut Lafitte was not a well-known wine producer. The Cathiards acquired Château Smith Haut Lafitte because they were intrigued by the vineyard's ability to produce both red and white wines. The Cathiards implemented a series of significant changes to the estate, discontinuing mechanical harvesting and instead hand-picking the fruit. The Cathiards also invested significantly in building their own cooperage, allowing them to produce 70% of their own barrels. They shifted their agricultural practices toward sustainability, and the property is now considered a leader in this regard. In 2020, they received a Robert Parker Green Emblem for sustainable viticultural practices. A blend of tradition and technological innovation governs the winemaking practices at Château Smith Haut Lafitte. It is one of the first properties to use Oenoview satellite imagery to find the optimal time to start harvesting in addition to using optical sorting technology.

The Cathiards have chosen to employ Michel Rolland and Stéphane Derenoncourt as consultants to oversee the vinification process in their state-of-the-art gravity-flow cellars. The barrel room is a haven of experimentation, resulting in a dynamic and complex wine. The Les Hauts de Smith Rosé is an excellent, affordable wine that surpasses its quality. This Bordeaux rosé is slightly fruitier than its Provençal cousins, but that doesn't mean it's not bone-dry, with a pleasantly thirst-quenching acidity. With a beautiful salmon color that shimmers in the glass, this blend of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot is a delightful rosé perfect for warm summer evenings.