Château Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan rouge 2019 - Grand Cru Classé

Martillac’s flagship property, renowned for the quality of its facilities and its commitment to wine tourism, featuring the superb Sources de Caudalie resort (a 5-star hotel and spa, and La Grand’Vigne, a restaurant with two Michelin stars), Smith Haut-Lafitte is also a pioneering estate in its category for its viticultural philosophy, which Daniel Cathiard describes as “bio-precision,” with the goal of combining the best of nature with the best of science. Florence and Daniel Cathiard, who acquired the estate in 1991, can be proud of the work accomplished across the 78 hectares of vineyards. Respect for the terroir, precision in winemaking, an on-site cooperage, and dynamic communication: in just a quarter of a century, the Cathiards have firmly established themselves as legends in Bordeaux! The wines have found their true personality: gone are the days of excessive oak; they are now refined, perfectly expressing their terroir and brimming with energy. Hauts-de-Smith and Le-Petit-Haut-de-Smith receive the same care and attention as the grand vin, and it shows!

With a beautiful, deep, and crystal-clear dark ruby color, the wine promises excellent concentration. On the nose, generous notes of ripe black fruit unfold. This fruit is complemented by a subtle mineral touch on the palate, which is as broad as it is long—dense and robust, supported by vigorous, refined tannins.

The Cathiards are a success story in the French wine industry. After purchasing the estate in 1990, they shifted its focus toward quality—both in the vineyard and in the cellar—and positioned it as a high-end brand, notably by creating a wine therapy center on the premises. Like an increasing number of châteaux, Smith Haut-Lafitte has adopted a “bio-organic” approach: using organic anti-botrytis treatments, practicing massal selection, plowing with horses, and making compost...

 

What a journey this estate has been on since 1990, the year Florence and Daniel Cathiard purchased it! Starting with a classified growth in ruins and a vineyard that was virtually abandoned, these two new winemakers—he trained in the retail industry and she in communications—have built a name for themselves that commands respect. First, they set out to produce a wine that undoubtedly ranks among the elite of Bordeaux production; then, they made Smith Haut-Lafitte an unmissable stop on any wine-tasting tour. While the wines were at times a bit too ripe and oaky in their early days, their style has greatly refined over the past decade. The texture of the reds, combined with carefully controlled extraction and more delicate tannins, results in wines that reflect a more contemporary, less ostentatious style. The whites have also followed this trend, with the influence of aging being much less pronounced in recent vintages. The success shows no signs of slowing: Smith Haut-Lafitte’s wines are enjoying international acclaim and experiencing strong price growth.

Rich in black fruit with a structure that provides a solid foundation. Acidity and flavors of blackberries and black coffee, with a core of very refined density. The wine will age well; best enjoyed starting in 2026. Organic and biodynamic.

RANKED 4TH OUT OF 100 — BEST WINES OF THE WORLD TASTED IN 2022. Intense notes of blackberry and graphite emerge from the glass, along with dried violet, ink, and a hint of asphalt. Full-bodied, with wonderfully integrated tannins that spread across the palate and draw you deep into the wine. A finish of pencil lead and blackcurrant. Tight structure with a cashmere-like texture. A complete, thought-provoking wine. Best enjoyed after 2028 and beyond.

Reminiscent of the 2009 vintage, the 2019 Château Smith Haut Lafitte offers a rich and powerful style with aromas of blackcurrant, blueberry, and black raspberry, as well as notes of chalky minerality, smoky earth, tobacco, and pencil lead. A blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and the remainder Petit Verdot, this rich and velvety beauty possesses tremendous concentration, soft tannins, and the elegance and finesse characteristic of the vintage. It is one of the most concentrated and powerful wines of the vintage. It requires 4 to 5 years of bottle aging (or thorough decanting) and will continue to evolve for over 30 years if stored properly. We cannot praise highly enough what the owners, Daniel and Florence Cathiard, along with winemaker Fabien Teitgen, continue to achieve at this estate.

An opulent nose that draws you in irresistibly, with notes of dark chocolate ganache, cherry, Ente plum, and elderberry. A breathtaking palate of dark fruits—silky, velvety, feline, and smooth—that makes you want to curl up in an armchair by the fire. Immense body and tannins as fine as a ribbon give it unparalleled presence and brilliance, while the finish is long and lingering.

Such color and depth! The bouquet is intense yet subtle. It reveals floral nuances and notes of licorice wood, followed by a hint of flint. Charming on the palate, the wine features smooth yet firm tannins and a refreshing tension. It has body and, above all, a beautiful balance. A powerful and inviting wine.  2026–2044

The nose is fresh, complex, and elegant, offering lovely texture, nice ripeness, and a certain creaminess. It features notes of Boysenberry, creamy blackcurrant, and, more subtly, juicy strawberry, combined with subtle hints of tart, crushed raspberry, as well as delicate notes of blueberry, lily, salty gravel, and subtle hints of pepper. On the palate, it is luscious, balanced, elegant, and well-structured, offering freshness, richness, lovely definition, a tangy framework, minerality, restraint, nice volume and roundness, a taut quality, and a well-balanced creaminess. A lovely, powerful structure, yet fully controlled and restrained. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of crushed blackberry, pulpy, juicy, and fresh plum, and more subtle hints of raspberry, combined with touches of fleshy strawberry, chocolate, toasted almond, and toasted notes, as well as subtle hints of star anise, pepper, discreet hints of caramelization in the background, and an imperceptible hint of violet. The tannins are elegant, heady, and refined. The bitter notes are beautifully balanced. A subtle hint of pleasant bitterness from cocoa and toasted notes lingers on the finish.

With an almost opaque color, the nose captures your attention from the very first swirl and sniff, thanks to notes of blackberry, smoke, black cherry, espresso, damp earth, cocoa, and flowers. On the palate, the wine is already expressive. Voluptuous, seductive, silky, fresh, and rich, layers of fruit coat your palate, leaving you with a sensual finish filled with waves of dark red fruit that linger and expand. The wine is so good right now that we drank the bottle with dinner, knowing that over the next 2–3 decades, it will become even better. Best enjoyed between 2025 and 2055.