Le Petit Smith Haut-Lafitte Pessac-Léognan rouge 2019 - Second vin

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

A flagship property in Martillac thanks to the quality of its facilities and its openness to wine tourism with the superb Les Sources de Caudalie establishment (a five-star hotel and spa with a two-Michelin-star restaurant, La Grand’Vigne), Smith Haut-Lafitte is also a pioneer in its category for its viticulture philosophy, which Daniel Cathiard describes as bio-precision, the aim being to combine the best of nature with the best of science. Florence and Daniel Cathiard, who acquired the property in 1991, can be proud of the work accomplished on the 78 hectares of vineyards. Respect for the terroir, precision in winemaking, integrated cooperage, dynamic communication: in just a quarter of a century, the Cathiards have become part of the Bordeaux legend! The wines have found their true personality: gone are the excesses of oak, they are now racy, perfectly expressing their terroir and bursting with energy. Hauts-de-Smith and Le-Petit-Haut-de-Smith receive the same attention as the grand vin, and it shows!

Decanter

About wine:

On the nose, green pepper, eucalyptus, dark chocolate, cherries, and blackcurrants—such aromatic intensity. The impact is immediate on the palate with heavy, full-bodied tannins that coat the mouth, giving structure and grip to the soft, sweet flavors of raspberry and red cherry. The juicy core is offset by woody spice notes that linger on the finish. This wine therefore needs more time, but it has excellent liveliness and vitality, and is very representative of the vintage and terroir. 2026-2046

Guide des Vins Gault & Millau

About the estate:

The Cathiards are a shining example of success in French viticulture. After purchasing the estate in 1990, they focused on quality, both in the vineyard and in the cellar, and positioned it as a high-end commercial venture, notably by creating a wine therapy center. Like more and more châteaux, Smith Haut-Lafitte is adopting an "organic" approach: using organic antibotrytis treatments, practicing massal selection, plowing with horses, making compost, etc.

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 bought it! From a classified growth in ruins and a vineyard that had been virtually abandoned, these two new winemakers—he trained in retail distribution and she in communications—have made a name for themselves. First, they produced a wine that is undoubtedly among the elite of Bordeaux production, and then they made Smith Haut-Lafitte an essential stop on any wine tourism itinerary. While the wines were sometimes a little too ripe and oaky in their early days, their style has greatly refined over the past ten years. The texture of the reds and the measured extraction with more delicate tannins have resulted in wines that are more in line with current tastes and less demonstrative. The whites have also followed this trend, with a much less pronounced influence of aging in recent vintages. The success continues: Smith Haut-Lafitte wines are enjoying international success and strong price growth.

Wine Enthusiast

About wine:

Barrel sample. As one of the estate's two second wines produced using organic farming methods, Cabernet Sauvignon dominates this wine. It offers structured blackcurrant fruit and a lovely line of pure acidity. The structure, while present, is open and integrated, meaning that the wine will age well in the medium term.

Vinous

About wine:

The 2019 Petit Smith Haut Lafitte is fabulous. Rich, powerful, and vibrant, it packs a real punch. Readers will find it hard to tear themselves away from this little gem. Black cherry, plum, new leather, licorice, mocha, and dried herbs develop as this effusive and generous wine reveals its racy and seductive personality. I loved this wine. 2027-2029

James Suckling

About wine:

Spices such as clove and white pepper, violet, and black fruits lead to a full body with firm, chewy tannins and a polished but intense finish. Open tannins. A hint of ash. Try after 2027.

Jean-Marc Quarin

About wine:

Dark, intense, and beautiful color. Intense, refined, fruity nose, with a hint of violet already apparent in the 2020 vintage. Meticulous on the palate, delicate and mellow in the middle, with a bright flavor, the wine finishes long and even deep, just a touch firmer than 2020. Wait for it. This vintage is becoming an outsider.

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About wine:

The nose is dominated by notes of cedar, tobacco leaf, herbs, cherry, and blackberry. Elegant, delicate, polished, and fresh, the wine is refined, energetic, and richly textured. The finish is enhanced by notes of red stone fruits, tinged with cocoa, and a hint of chocolate that reveals itself at the very end. Best enjoyed between 2023 and 2035.