2020 CHÂTEAU SMITH HAUT LAFITTE Cru Classé Pessac-Léognan, Lea & Sandeman

CHÂTEAU SMITH HAUT LAFITTE

2024 Cru Classé Pessac-Léognan

Grapes Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, Merlot, Petit Verdot
Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
Other Certified Organic
Village Pessac-Léognan
Classification Cru Classé
ABV 13%

Toasted cedar and sandalwood oak on the nose, the team as Smith Haut-Lafitte has done a lovely job of adding a gourmet lick of grilled blueberry and raspberry fruits to the opening moments of the wine, alongside richer damson and black cherry in the mid-palate. Great energy, lift and juice, vivid fruits, graphite, ink, chalk tannins, slimmer through the mid palate than in the bigger vintages, but everything in its place. 21hl/h yield, 60% new oak. Fabien Teitgen technical director. Drinking range: 2030 - 2042 Rating: 94 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2025)


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The 2024 Smith Haut Lafitte was picked from September 18 to October 9 and matured in 60% new oak. It has an understated bouquet that I appreciate, with scents of blackberry, raspberry, light rose petal and India ink that gradually unfurl in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, extremely well balanced and very refined, with a linear and correct finish. This is a classy Smith Haut Lafitte that will provide up to 20 years of drinking pleasure. Drinking range: 2029 - 2055 Rating: 92-94 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2025)

A fresh, complex and deep nose of spiced blue fruit, waxberries, blue flowers, minerals, licorice and graphite. Full-bodied and really fine-grained, with tight, chalky tannins and a long, structured finish. Very juicy and complete, with excellent fruit definition and an al dente texture. More reactive tannins this year. 67% cabernet sauvignon, 27% merlot, 5% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. Rating: 96-97 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (May 2025)

67 Cabernet Sauvignon, 27 Merlot, 5 Cabernet Franc, 1 Petit Verdot: 60% new oak: 13.2% alc: 22 hl/ha: Harvested between 18 September and 9 October.

SHL Technical Director Fabien Teitgen and his team fought tooth and nail against the climatic conditions in 2024 with multiple treatments of copper combined with infusions of oak bark, horsetail, and alder buckthorn. He believes this helped his organically farmed vines to engender extraordinary resilience during this difficult vintage. The result is a beautifully elegant wine with sleek curves and thrilling natural purity. There is a tremendous density of fruit here, coupled with surprising levity and freshness. These qualities are in perfect proportion, making this a wine with modern brightness and verve built on old-school dimensions. The tannins are fabulously crisp, making this an unqualified success in 2024. 18.5+/20 Rating: 18.5+ Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (May 2025)

Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Owned by the Cathiard family since 1990, Smith Haut Lafitte has a history that extends back to 1365. Originally owned by the Bosq Family, it was bought by Scotsman George Smith in the eighteenth century, and he gave it his name. He also built the manor house, and shipped the wine back to England.

In 1842, it passed, from his mother, to a M. Duffour-Dubergier, who was mayor of Bordeaux. His work raised the quality level and it was classified Grand Cru in the 1855 classification. The 20th century was mostly about Louis Eschenauer and his company, which distibuted the wines and eventually bought the property in 1958, investing over the time and building the barrel cellar.

The Cathiards fell in love with Smith in 1990, and have lavished care and considerable investment on it since then. Daniel Cathiard was a former ski champion, a member of the famous French Olympic team that included Jean-Claude Killy, and it was at that time that he met his wife Florence. Both have impressive track records of running businesses. Daniel built up the small chain of supermarkets that he inherited, and added a chain of sports shops, the group employing nine thousand people. Florence worked with him and also ran her own advertising company, ending up in a senior position in the McCann group. In 1990 they sold all their business interests to concentrate on Smith, where they have lived since. One of their daughters runs the Caudalie beauty products company (products based on the polyphenols extracted from grape pips), and the other two boutique hotels, including the 'Sources de Caudalie', next to Smith.

The Cathiards have since bought Château Cantelys in Martillac, and also, in 2012, part of the vineyard of Château Le Thil, as well as the house and the park. More recently they have been involved in the consortium which bought Château Bearegard (Pomerol) and Château Bastor Lamontagne (Sauternes).

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