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Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is a Grand Cru Classified Château 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 Châteaux 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 Château 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 Château 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)

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot. The 2022 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge offers a deep garnet-purple hue. On the nose, it presents powerful notes of plum preserves, crème de cassis, and licorice, with hints of chargrill, cardamom, and iron ore. The medium to full-bodied palate is structured with firm, grainy tannins and vibrant freshness, leading to a long, mineral-lifted finish. 

Aromas of currants and blackberries with orange peel and rose petals follow through to a medium body with racy and polished tannins that go on for a long time. Vivid and energetic. Second wine of Smith Haut Lafitte. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. ~94 James Suckling

A more straight, focused, structured wine, the 2022 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot brought up in a mix of new and used oak. It's a powerful, medium to full-bodied, structured Graves offering classic darker, almost blue fruits, some violet, floral, and graphite nuances, fine yet certainly present tannins, and a great finish. It's another clearly outstanding wine from this team. ~94 Jeb Dunnuck

Beautiful nose, blackcurrant, vanilla, caramel, chocolate, tobacco, cherries, crushed stones, blue fruit and bramble fruits. Sleek and straight, nice acidity, but this is quite linear with the Cabernet really giving the backbone, length and overall structure. Feels a bit tense, but it does have texture too so it’s not austere or harsh, just strong. Really well built, delivering power no doubt, but keeping a soft juiciness underneath. Very medicinal - clove, liquorice, unmistakable Cabernet speaking here, but feels clean and well worked. Nothing sticking out too much with body, plushness and cool freshness. Good potential, really impressively constructed.~94 Decanter

The 2022 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte is a rich, heady wine. A blast of dark cherry, plum, licorice, menthol, chocolate, tobacco and incense makes a strong opening impression. This Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend is all opulence. I would give it a few years to settle down.~93 Vinous

Denser and deeper than the Les Hauts de Smith, the 2022 Le Petit Haut Lafitte is a real success this year, revealing a lively, vibrant bouquet of dark wild berries, cassis, flowers and licorice mingled with delicate notes of rose. Medium to full-bodied, round and supple, it's layered and seamless and framed by velvety tannins, concluding with a long, floral finish. Perfect for gastronomy, this well-crafted Pessac-Léognan has plenty of freshness despite the dry season. ~92 Wine Advocate