Smith Haut-Lafitte

“One can’t say enough about what proprietors Daniel and Florence Cathiard have accomplished at this estate since 1990. Regrettably, I am old enough to remember how horrible the wines were before the Cathiards purchased the property. They have fashioned one of the most consistently outstanding wines…”
– Robert Parker, The Wine Advocate

The Bosq family began growing grapes in Pessac-Léognan around 1365, and it was not until the 18th Century that Scotsman George Smith purchased the property and gave it its current name. In 1958 this left bank chateau was purchased by the Louis Eschenauer Company and the following year it was classified as Grand Cru Classé in the Classification of the Graves, giving it higher quality recognition than other estates in the region. In 1990, Daniel Cathiard and his wife, Florence, joined the list of renowned owners. Cathiard’s influence of modern winemaking technique combined with antiquated methods such as organic compost, small wooden vat fermentation, and ageing on the lees have allowed the winery’s tradition of excellence to be enhanced. It is a misconception that they are associated with the First Growth Château Lafite Rothschild, but Lafitte takes its name from the gravel plateau cultivated in 1365 with the same name. The house makes both red and white gran vin. Merlot is the dominant variety in their red blend while the white is Sauvignon Blanc focused, and both wines have been well-received by critics.

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