Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte 2017

The Freshness and Precision of an Elite Grand Cru de Graves

Situated at the gateway to Bordeaux, Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte is one of the most essential Cru Classe de Graves properties in the Pessac-Leognan appellation. Managed by the couple Daniel and Florence Cathiard since 1990, Smith Haut Lafitte shines bright among the elite wines of Bordeaux with a reputation that knows no boundaries. Power, volume, concentration, perfect maturity and delicate smoky notes testify to the imprint of the terroir, and the wines of Smith Haut Lafitte offer a brilliant display of this unique style and identity.

The stunning 78-hectare vineyard is planted in Gunz gravel soils that have earned Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte the nickname "More Graves than Graves". In order to express the beauty of this exceptional terroir and because "the winemaker is the architect of the landscape", the philosophy of the field is based on the concept of "bio-precision", which combines innovative winemaking techniques with a viticulture that respects the environment.

A vintage unlike others, 2017 will be remembered by Smith Haut Lafitte as an emblematic year. With a vineyard spared by the frost that swept through Bordeaux at the end of April, the vegetative cycle of the vine enjoyed favorable climatic conditions with grapes presenting at the harvest a perfect sanitary condition, with a good balance of sugar and acidity.

The triumphant Smith Haut Lafitte 2017 is one of the most beautiful references of Graves in this vintage. Dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon (60%), the blend is rounded out by Merlot (35%), Cabernet Franc (4%) and Petit Verdot (1%). This Cru displays superb aromatic concentration with notes of black berries. Large and full-bodied, the wine is elegantly structured with velvety tannins, coating the palate in a succession of flavors, stretching forth into a deliciously persistent finish. A superb vintage that will endure the years to come.