# Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte (2020)

- **Producer:** Château Smith Haut Lafitte
- **Colour:** red
- **Type:** still
- **Grapes:** Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot
- **Region:** Bordeaux, France
- **Style:** Classic
- **Alcohol:** 14.5%
- **Average price:** €40
- **Contains sulphites:** Yes
- **When to drink:** Now or Later
- **Serving temperature:** 16–18 °C
- **Aromas & flavours:** blackcurrant, blackberry, plum, violet, black pepper, herbaceous, vanilla, cedar, smoke, toast, tobacco, leather, forest floor

## About this wine

Le Petit Smith Haut Lafitte is the elegant second wine of Château Smith Haut Lafitte, a historic Grand Cru Classé estate in Pessac-Léognan. Owned by Daniel and Florence Cathiard since 1990, the estate has become a pioneer in organic and biodynamic viticulture in Bordeaux. This wine is crafted with the same meticulous care as the Grand Vin, sourced from younger vines grown on the estate's gunzian gravel soils. It offers an accessible yet sophisticated expression of the Pessac-Léognan terroir, balancing classic Bordeaux structure with vibrant fruit.

## Interesting facts

- Château Smith Haut Lafitte is one of the very few Bordeaux estates to have its own cooperage on-site to craft and toast its barrels.
- Owners Daniel and Florence Cathiard are former professional skiers who completely revitalized the estate starting in 1990.
- The estate practices 'bio-precision', combining organic farming with high-tech tools like satellite imaging to monitor vine health.

## Food pairing

The firm tannins and vibrant acidity of this Pessac-Léognan require rich proteins and savory fats to soften the structure. Earthy elements like mushrooms or truffles mirror the wine's subtle forest floor and oak characteristics, while dark fruit reductions complement its primary berry notes.

## Wine making process

The grapes are harvested by hand into small crates and sorted twice (before and after destemming) using optical sorting technology. Fermentation takes place in temperature-controlled wooden vats. The wine is aged for 14 months in French oak barrels (typically 20% new oak) crafted in the estate's own cooperage, allowing for precise control over the oak influence and integration.