Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Graves’ most characteristic estate, Château Smith Haut Lafitte sits along the most renowned gravelly ridge of the Pessac-Léognan appellation. After years under the ownership of the Bordeaux négociant Eschenauer, a former Olympic skiing champion, Daniel Cathiard and his wife, Florence bought the château in 1990. Since then, the Grand Cru Classé estate has made several improvements that continue to accrue. The Cathiards opted for a more organic viticulture method, and modernized their vinification technologies. With 78-hectares under vine, the vineyards devote 67-hectares to red varieties, and the remaining 11-hectares are planted to white. Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge remains at the pinnacle of their production. It is a lighter style blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that still packs an impressive depth. The white, Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc is also unfiltered and barrel fermented, however this wine stays true to the floral, and herbal core found at the base of this unique terroir’s production.