Located in the heart of the Pessac-Léognan appellation and dating from 1365, Château Smith Haut-Lafitte is one of the oldest châteaux in Bordeaux. This magnificent property entered a new era in its history following its purchase by Daniel and Florence Cathiard in 1990. Driven with passion and ambition by the Cathiard couple, Château Smith Haut Laffite has become one of the most beautiful properties in the Graves with crus world renowned for their class and style, both in red and white.
Superbly located, the Château Smith Haut Lafitte vineyard covers 78 hectares of vines, 40 years old on average. The château uses its own vine plants thanks to a mother vine preserved in the nursery on the island of Lalande.
The vintage
The 2010 vintage was marked by a combination of high temperatures and very low rainfall. These climatic conditions are ideal for promoting slow ripening of the grapes while preserving the typical acidity of the greatest Bordeaux vintages.
State-of-the-art tools and updated soil mapping have improved the efficiency of grape selection and thus the precision of the wines.
Vinification and aging
Smith Haut Lafitte 2010 is vinified in whole berries in small wooden vats at 28°C. Manual pigeages reinforce the extraction.
The aging takes place over a period of 18 months on the lees, in French oak barrels (65% new) made in the cooperage integrated into the château.
Assembly
Smith Haut Lafitte 2010 is made from a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon (64%), Merlot (30%), Cabernet Franc (5%) and Petit
Deep, the dress is an intense red, almost black.
Gourmand, the first nose combines fruity aromas (red fruits, black fruits) with notes of spices and warm herbs. After aeration, the nose gains in amplitude and aromatic richness with notes of black fruit, liquorice, cloves, pencil lead.
Ample and of a good length, the mouth deflects its power without austerity. The texture is silky and the tannins enveloping. Structured and precise, the palate harmoniously distils aromas of fruit, liquorice, stones and warm earth.
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