Château Smith Haut-Lafitte Pessac-Léognan rouge 2020 - Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Martillac’s flagship estate, renowned for the quality of its facilities and its commitment to wine tourism, featuring the superb Sources de Caudalie complex (a 5-star hotel-spa and the two-Michelin-starred restaurant La Grand’Vigne), Smith Haut-Lafitte is also a pioneering vineyard 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 integrated cooperage, and dynamic communication: in just a quarter of a century, the Cathiards have firmly established themselves in the legend of Bordeaux! The wines have found their true personality: gone are the days of excessive oak; they are now racy, perfectly expressing their terroir and brimming with energy. Hauts-de-Smith and Le-Petit-Haut-de-Smith receive the same care as the grand vin, and it shows!

Decanter

About the wine:

In the glass, the wine is a vivid dark purple, yet remarkably clear. Aromas of black cherry, plum, blackcurrant, and floral notes with blueberries, balsamic hints, and white pepper. Rich, round, gripping, and captivating, slightly opulent yet tight, with a gentle grip of limestone and wet stone, lively acidity balanced by firm, spicy fruit with a hint of licorice. You can sense it’s lean, but it’s so well-defined with clarity and precision. A sleeping giant for now, not yet fully expressing itself, but slowly unfolding into a long finish. There’s something utterly seductive about this wine; it’s frank, direct, confident, and undoubtedly powerful. You’ll have to wait a while before opening it, but it’s a brilliant thoroughbred. Refined and determined. There’s a bit of magic in this bottle. 2029–2058

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

With its deep, brilliant garnet color, the wine makes an even more impressive impression thanks to its stunningly complex bouquet, which combines spicy and toasty notes with sandalwood, licorice, and red and black fruits. Supple and fresh on the attack, full-bodied, smooth, and very rich, supported by exquisitely velvety tannins, the palate lingers into an incredibly long finish, with notes of spice and a warm, hearth-like quality. A great, truly great classic, in the timeless sense of the word. 2030–2040

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the estate:

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 establishing 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 mass selection, plowing with horses, and making compost...

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the estate:

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the estate:

What a journey this estate has been on since 1990, the year Florence and Daniel Cathiard took it over! Starting with a Cru Classé in ruins and a vineyard that was virtually abandoned, these two new winemakers—he trained in the retail sector and she in communications—have built a name for themselves that carries real weight. First, they set out to produce a wine that undoubtedly ranks among the elite of Bordeaux production, and then to make Smith Haut-Lafitte an essential stop on any wine tourism itinerary. 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, the controlled extraction with more delicate tannins, result in wines that fit into 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 continues unabated: Smith Haut-Lafitte wines are enjoying international acclaim and experiencing strong price growth.

James Suckling

About the wine:

The nose is extremely fresh and deep, with notes of raspberry and blackcurrant, as well as stone, fresh green tobacco, and ink. The wine is full-bodied, with a dense mid-palate and magnificent fine yet firm tannins. It softens on the finish with berries, citrus, and a hint of lavender. Salty on the finish. Very mineral. Silex. Made from organically grown grapes. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. Give it 4 or 5 years to come into its own.

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

A dark, serious, intriguing, and striking nose, with notes of black fruit, floral pollen, musk, and sandalwood. Pure and refined, the palate is extraordinarily beautiful, with delicate black fruit, a hypnotic freshness, and a superb spicy kick (Sichuan pepper). The finish seems to go on forever. 2028–2053

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

“We tasted grapes that were a delight; the winemaking process was just as enjoyable. Today, in Bordeaux, only one in five vintages has an oceanic character, and we no longer thin the leaves to protect the grapes from the sun,” says Fabien Teitgen, general manager. Indeed, even now, the bouquet is enchanting, unfolding notes of peony, blackberry, blackcurrant, graphite, and zan. The generous, full-bodied texture is perfectly mineral, almost chalky, and the tight, slender tannins carry the wine far into the finish. Of course, this is a wine of undeniable power—one might even call it racy—but it possesses supreme balance and tremendous potential.

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

A lovely, powdery, aromatic, and complex nose that offers power, finesse, delicacy, and depth. The wine benefits from being decanted. It features notes of violet, vibrant blackcurrant, morello cherry, and, more subtly, wild blueberry, combined with hints of red berries, touches of fresh blond tobacco, Cuben pepper, as well as a subtle hint of cardamom, spices, and a subtle, almost charcoal-like note. The palate is mineral, fruity, and offers a rich, indulgent character, a lovely silkiness, depth, and a coating richness. Beautiful silky richness. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy blackberry, crushed wild black berries, camphor, Bourbon vanilla, and subtle hints of toasted hazelnut. The tannins are supple, elegant, and flavorful. Good length. A subtle hint of pleasant bitterness, plenty of appeal, suppleness, and subtlety.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

The impressive dark color sets the stage for the equally dark profile of the nose and palate. The wine is characterized by its richness, intensity, length, and presence on the palate, which, somehow, remains perfectly balanced, with all its layers of blackberries, smoke, espresso, black cherries, licorice, and chocolate. What stands out here is the purity of the fruit, the liveliness, the balance, and the freshness on the palate, and of course, the length that lingers for over 50 seconds! The finish combines power and elegance, with creamy tannins and a display of sweet black cherries, plums, chocolate, and spices. As I mentioned in my notes, in some vintages, it felt like tasting a wine produced in the cellar. But that is no longer the case for Smith Haut Lafitte, as it is now a wine produced in the vineyard. Drink between 2025 and 2055.