Château Smith Haut Lafitte Le Petit Haut Lafitte 2021

This is the second wine of Smith Haut Lafitte, made of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot from the famous estate. Look for earthy, foresty scents coupled with licorice, tobacco, coffee, black raspberry and plums in the nose and mouth. The wine has excellent freshness in the fruit, softness in the tannins and superb density in the second wine arena. The finish is spicy and dark with tons of red fruits.      

Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte has a long history in Bordeaux dating back over 800 years. The estate started as part of the Du Boscq holdings in the Graves region. It was Du Boscq who planted vines in 1365 on a gravelly plateau called Lafitte, which is how the famous chateau was named. George Smith bought the Graves estate in 1720 and added his name to the property, becoming Smith Haut Lafitte.

Today, Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is owned and managed by Daniel and Florence Cathiard. The Cathiard’s purchased the Bordeaux estate in 1990. They bought the estate from a well known Bordeaux negociant and importer to America, Louis Eschenauer. According to Daniel Cathiard, there were numerous estates in Bordeaux for sale at the time. But a big part of the reason they purchased Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte had to do with the fact that Smith Haut Lafitte is one of the few Bordeaux vineyards producing both red and white wines. For reds, the estate is planted to 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc with an average vine age of 30 years, 'today Smith Haut Lafitte is one of Bordeaux's shining success stories, reflecting what hard work and conscientious propietors can achieve in a short period of time.' Robert Parker