Château Smith Haut Lafitte Assortiment (no reserve)

Lot presentation

Château Smith Haut Lafitte Assortiment (no reserve)

The wine

Assortiment 3 blancs 2016 - 3 rouges 2015.
The domain’s vineyard spans 56 hectares, of which 45 are dedicated to the production of red wine. Château Smith Haut Laffite produces a superb red Pessac-Léognan using a majority of Cabernet Sauvignon. The cru has vastly improved in recent years, to the extent that in 2009, Robert Parker awarded the wine his prized 100-point score. The nose is elegant, generous and redolent with notes of black fruits, evolving into autumnal notes. The mouth is superb, concentrated and distinguished. More recent vintages are sure to go far. 11 hectares of gravel are used for the production of white wine, of which 90% is Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris and 5% Sémillon. Like the red, the white continues to improve in leaps and bounds. The wines are less marked by oak and have gained greater precision. The grapes are generally harvested when very ripe, but the high proportion of Sauvignon Blanc maintains a good amount of acidity, essential for the balance of the wine. The nose develops aromas of exotic fruits, citrus and white flowers. The palate is full-bodied, with a delicious fat that is structured by the acidity. A white Pessac that will age with grace, one of the finest in the appellation.

About the Producer Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Although wine has been produced here since the mid-14th century, the story of Château Smith Haut Lafitte began in earnest in the 18th century with Georges Smith, its founder. As for the Lafitte part of the name, it comes from the Latin ficta (stone), which became fitte in the Gascon dialect, referring to a gravel hilltop of the type the vines are planted on. Given the superb quality of the production, Georges Smith decided to export it to Britain to satisfy the growing demand for the New French Claret. After a number of changes of ownership over the following two centuries, accompanied by a certain decline in quality, new life was breathed into the wine when the Cathiard family took over the domaine in 1990. And a mere year later, connoisseurs were reporting that Smith Haut Lafitte had rediscovered its former splendour; most of whom were foreign buyers, given that the owners continue to favour the export channel so dear to the estate's founder. The domaine's vineyards cover 56 hectares, 45 of which are devoted to the production of red wine. In its quest for excellence, the château now has its own cooperage, giving it control over the barrel manufacturing process. With the same aim in mind, the estate's on-site weather station enables it to predict the effects of bad weather on the vines. The château has become a pioneer in Bordeaux luxury wine tourism. The Cathiard family is also responsible for creating the Caudalie brand.