Smith Haut Lafitte Les Hauts de Smith Rosé 2020

Château Smith Haut Lafitte is a Grand Cru Classé property within the Pessac-Léognan appellation that needs little to no introduction.  The wines from this estate captivate many a drinker and critic alike, and the versatility of this remarkable terroir is to be celebrated.  It is one of the few estates in Bordeaux to produce both red, white, and rosé wines of excellent quality.
 
The property hosts a long history in Bordeaux that dates back over 800 years.  It 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 graveled Lafitte plateau.  The property was purchased in 1720 by a man named George Smith, who named it after himself 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. 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 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 Les Hauts de Smith Rosé is an excellent, affordable wine that overdelivers in terms of quality.  This Bordeaux rosé is a bit fruitier than its Provençal cousins, but that does not mean it isn’t bone dry, with pleasant thirst-quenching acidity.  With a gorgeous salmon color that glitters in the glass, this mixture of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot is a delicious rosé that is perfect for warm Summer evenings. 
 
Rosé production continues to increase in Bordeaux, as demand is skyrocketing.  Always at the forefront of the wine industry, the Cathiards understood this and responded by creating Les Hauts de Smith Rosé.  This wine is versatile enough to go with spicier foods, such as blistered shishito peppers and Indian cuisine yet casual enough to be paired with a burger or barbecue.