2022 Chateau Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Leognan

Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is a Grand Cru Classified Chateau from Graves. The story of this estate dates back to the 14th century when George Smith, a Scottish wine businessman, acquired the estate and renamed it after him.

The property passed through the hands of different owns, but it was in 1990, with the acquisition of Daniel and Florence Cathiard, that this winery finally exploit its potential, and became synonymous with premium, high-quality wines in Bordeaux, and as Wine Spectator said, “rejuvenated into one of Bordeaux’s elite properties.”

The Cathiard family are wine legends in the business. They own 5 different Chateaux in Bordeaux and recently acquired Flora Springs in Napa Valley. They say their "philosophy can be summed up in one sentence: to do everything possible to make each vintage of red and white wine worthy of its magnificent terroir.”

Since 1990, the 200-acre vineyard has been managed under sustainable and organic practices. In 2019, the estate was organically certified and started to implement biodynamic viticulture.

This Chateau owes its reputation as “the quintessential tomb” to the smoky notes of its wines and its mountainous terroir, made up of the river and semi-precious stones deposited by the Garonne millions of years ago.

Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte isn’t just a second wine—it’s a gateway into the soul of Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte. Produced with the same meticulous care as the Grand Vin, this wine reflects the gravel-rich terroir of Pessac-Léognan, shaped by centuries of winemaking tradition.

Since taking over in 1990, Daniel and Florence Cathiard have transformed the estate, embracing organic and biodynamic farming to enhance the purity and precision of their wines. The estate is known for its holistic approach, incorporating in-house compost, cover crops, and a gravity-fed cellar to preserve the character of each vintage.

2022 was an extraordinary vintage for Bordeaux, it was blessed with a 95-98 pt review by Wine Spectator who said: "A new paradigm for Bordeaux. Very aromatic and sleek, fresh and pure in feel, with all major varietals performing well; far more consistent than the 2018-2020 trio."

Aging: 14 months in French oak barrels (20% new oak)