98-99
James Suckling
CHATEAU SMITH HAUT LAFITTE, 2023
Primeurs - shipping 2026
CaracteristicsMore information
| RANKING | Grand Cru Classé |
| BLEND | cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, petit verdot |
| BOTTLE SIZE | 75 cl |
The photo of the bottle is indicative. It is in our warehouse. Therefore, the design and condition of the label may differ without altering the quality of the wine.
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Vintage 2023
The 2023 vintage wine at Château Smith Haut Lafitte is described as a "vintage of the future and of memory."
Harvest
The harvest began on August 23 and ended on September 9.
Vinification and Aging
Whole berries were fermented in small wooden vats at 28°C, with very gentle extraction using manual punch-downs.
The wine is aged for 18 months in barrels (60% new, crafted in their own integrated cooperage), on the lees, with a single racking and tailored aging for each individual wine.
Wine Profile
“The nose is very expressive, with lovely notes of red and black fruits—a beautiful mix of morello cherry, blueberry, and blackcurrant. After swirling, a spicy dimension becomes predominant with notes of clove, licorice, and eucalyptus, followed by deeper, smoky aromas with hints of graphite and pencil lead. A superb aromatic complexity, very typical of the great gravel soils.
The attack on the palate is frank and direct, with great density and superb texture. The wine is full-bodied, dense, with a beautiful balance of freshness. The tannic structure is present and well-ripened, offering a silky texture and velvety feel. The aromatics on the palate mirror the nose with a wonderful complexity of red and black fruits, spices, as well as nuances of tobacco leaf and eucalyptus. And always those notes of graphite, so characteristic of our Smith Haut Lafitte. A truly great vintage combining power and elegance within a refined tannic structure.” – Château Smith Haut Lafitte
Technical sheet 2023 Vintage
Détails chateau SMITH HAUT LAFITTE
History and anecdotes
Château Smith Haut Lafitte is located in Graves in Pessac-Léognan appellation. The estate history started 6 centuries ago in 1365 with the noble Bosq family who became owner of some vines and gave the name of “Haut Lafitte”. In the 18th century, a Scottish wine merchant, George Smith, built the chartreuse and named the Château “Smith Haut Lafitte”.The Château’s red wines are classified as Grand Cru. The château has been the Cathiard family’s property since 1990.Vineyard Detail
| Farming | Organic principles with no certification |
| GRAPE VARIETIES |
Red varieties: 63% of cabernet sauvignon, 30% of merlot, 6% of petit verdot White varieties: 90% of sauvignon blanc, 5% of sauvignon gris, 5% of semillon, 1% of muscadelle |
| VINEYARD SURFACE AREA | 78 hectares, with 67 hectares for red varieties and 11 hectares for white varieties |
| ANNUAL PRODUCTION | 200,000 bottles |
| HARVEST | Manual |
| SOIL |
Gunzian gravel soil |
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