Smith Haut Lafitte reveals a complex and gourmet Second White Wine from Pessac-Léognan

The estate

Location at 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 Grâces estate entered a new era in its history following its purchase by Daniel and Florence Cathiard in 1990. Sustained by the passion and ambition of the Cathiard couple, Château Smith Haut Lafitte has established itself as one of the most beautiful Graves estates alongside the growths which are reputed worldwide for their elegance and style, both in terms of red and white wine.

The wine

Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte is the estate’s Second Wine.

The vineyard

The superbly situated Château Smith Haut Lafitte has a vineyard covering 78 hectares. The 2020 Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte is made from vines which are aged 11 years on average. The château uses its own vine plants thanks to a mother vine preserved in the plant nursery on the island of Lalande. The vineyard is cultivated with Organic Farming.

The vintage

The wet and mild winter encouraged an early bud break in early March. The rise in temperatures in April allowed the vine to experience good growth. A rainy spell in early May triggered mildew pressure, which was controlled thanks to the care given to the vineyard by the team at the château. Vine development (flowering, ripening) was quick and homogeneous. The summer conditions, which were marked by heat and drought, brought about the first water stress at the end of July. Harvests, which began on 20 August for the white grapes and 9 September for the red, ranked among the earliest in the history of the estate. The ripening of the white grape varieties resulted in a great diversity of batches, some tense, some round and powerful, further enhanced by blending.

 Winemaking and ageing

Manual harvest in small crates followed by inert pressing. Fermentation in French oak barrels (50% new oak) after static cold settling. Ageing lasts 12 months on lees with stirring in barrels (50% new and 50% second-fill) made in the estate's own cooperage.

Blend

The Petit Smith Haut Lafitte white 2020 is made from a blend of sauvignon blanc (80%) and sémillon (20%).

Tasting

Colour

The wine is a beautiful pale yellow colour.

Nose

The very expressive nose blends fragrances of yellow fruits (peach, apricot) and white flowers (acacias, orange blossom) with elegant citrus notes.

Palate

The attack is balanced and presents a nice tension. The palate is seductive with its density and velvety feel. With its greatlength, the palate is supported by a delicious acidity and great minerality. The wine reveals fruity and floral aromas that mingle with mineral, spicy and empyreumatic notes giving a tasty complexity to this wine, which authentically expresses its terroir of origin.