Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2014

Château Smith Haut Lafitte is a Grand Cru Classé property within the Pessac-Léognan appellation that needs little to no introduction.  The stunning wines from this estate captivate many a drinker and critic alike.  It is one of the few properties within the Left Bank that produces both red, white, and rosé wines of excellent quality.  The caliber of grand vin produced at this estate continues to improve with each vintage, resulting in a spectacularly reviewed 2020 that has dramatically changed the trajectory of this estate.  Without a doubt, Château Smith Haut Lafitte is having a producer having its moment. 

Château Smith Haut Lafitte hosts a long history in Bordeaux that dates back over 800 years.  The property was initially a part of the Du Bosq holdings in the Graves region.  The Du Bosqs were the first to plant vines in 1365 in the heavily graveled Lafitte plateau.  The property was purchased in 1720 by a man named George Smith, who added his name to the property and that is how Château Smith Haut Lafitte received its name. The property is presently owned by Daniel and Florence Cathiard.  The Cathiards purchased Château Smith Haut Lafitte in 1990, and that is when the true story of this estate begins. 

Prior to the Cathiards involvement, Château Smith Haut Lafitte was not a well-known wine producer.  The Cathiards purchased Château Smith Haut Lafitte because they were intrigued by the fact the vineyard was capable of producing both red and white wines.  The Cathiards made a series of sweeping changes to the estate and stopped the use of mechanical harvesting.  Instead, they handpicked the fruit.  They made changes to the sorting process, implementing two sorting passes to make sure only the choicest fruit get selected for the grand vin.   The Cathiards also invested a significant amount of funding in building their own cooperage, which allowed them to produce 70% of their own barrels.   They shifted farming practices towards sustainability, and the property is now considered a leader in that respect.  As of 2020, they received a Robert Parker Green Emblem for sustainable viticultural practices.  A mixture of tradition and technological innovation govern the winemaking practices at Château Smith Haut Lafitte.  It is one of the first properties to use Oenoview satellite imagery to find the optimum time to begin harvest in addition to using optical sorting technology. 

The sprawling 78 hectare vineyard is planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot.  For white varietals, a mixture of Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon Gris and Semillon thrive in these vineyards.  The vines are an average of 35 years old, and they are diligently tended to by the team.  A lot ofbiodynamic techniques are implemented here to achieve perfection in the vineyard.  The Cathiards have made the decision to hire Michel Rolland and Stephane Derenoncourt as consultants who guide the vinification process in the state-of-the-art gravity flow cellars.  There is plenty of experimentation in the vat room, and this results in a dynamic and complex wine. 

"The Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2014 is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, cropped at 35 hectoliters per hectare that is matured in 65% new barrels. There is a strong and persuasive marine influence on the nose, suggestions of iodine and seaweed infusing the black fruit that is very well defined and nicely embroidered with the oak. The palate is medium-bodied with edgy, slightly chalky tannin; saline in the mouth and linear, focused, quite penetrating finish. In a similar fashion to the Haut-Bailly, this is a more "athletic" Smith Haut Lafitte, but one that allows the terroir to come through and be articulated. This is a stylish "S.H.L." from talented winemaker Fabien Teitgen." - Neal Martin, The Wine Advocate (4/29/2015, Issue 218), Ratings: 92-94, Drink: 2019-2035

"The 2014 Smith Haut Lafitte shows the elegant style of the vintage, yet the depth of fruit that’s common from this estate. Blackberries, currants, scorched earth, spicy oak and tobacco leaf nuances give way to a medium to full-bodied, beautifully textured 2014 that has ripe tannin and nicely integrated acidity. It has tons of character and is a beautiful, elegant wine to drink over the coming 15 years or so." - Jeb Dunnuck, Jebdunnuck.com, Rating: 93, Drink: 2018-2033