Le Petit Smith Haut-Lafitte Pessac-Léognan rouge 2022 - Second vin BIO

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:

A magnificent nose, with notes of blackcurrant, vanilla, caramel, chocolate, tobacco, cherry, crushed stone, blueberries, and blackberries. Elegant and straightforward, with lovely acidity, this wine remains fairly linear, with the Cabernet providing structure, length, and body. There is a certain tension, but the texture is present, preventing any harshness or aggressiveness. A powerful, well-structured wine that retains a juicy sweetness in the background. Medicinal notes—clove and licorice, typical of Cabernet—are present, but the whole remains clean and harmonious. A full-bodied, velvety wine with refreshing acidity. Great potential, a truly impressive structure. 3.7 points. Aging: 30% new oak barrels. 2026–2040

Guide Hachette des vins

About the wine:

A very charming second wine, with a nose marked by notes of ripe black fruit from a well-bred Cabernet Sauvignon, blended with a hint of mint. The Merlot, equally ripe, lends its round, velvety texture to a concentrated, creamy palate, supported by beautiful, rich tannins without the slightest harshness. This Pessac shows solid potential, with a fullness typical of the vintage. 2029–2038

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:

Aromas of blackcurrant and blackberry, intertwined with notes of orange peel and rose petals, unfold on the palate. This well-structured wine features refined, silky tannins that linger on the finish. Lively and energetic. The second wine of the Smith Haut-Laffite estate. A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Best enjoyed in 2 to 3 years.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

Dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2022 Petit Smith Haut Lafitte is composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, and spent 14 months in barrels, 20% of which were new French oak. It is even better than the Les Hauts de Smith cuvée and displays magnificent aromas of black cherries, blackcurrant, burnt earth, tobacco, and graphite. This beautifully textured wine, with good structure and perfect harmony, features ripe tannins, a balanced and complex palate, and a lingering finish. It equals, if not surpasses, the 2020 vintage.

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is beautifully deep and elegant, offering a certain complexity, well-controlled intensity, and a lingering quality. It features notes of bright blackcurrant and cherry, along with more subtle, refined undertones, combined with hints of...