Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2019

The complexity and balance of a fine white wine from Pessac-Léognan by Smith Haut Lafitte

The estate
Located in the heart of the Pessac-Léognan appellation and dating back to 1365, Château Smith Haut-Lafitte is one of the oldest estates in Bordeaux. This magnificent property of Grâces has entered a new era in its history, following its acquisition by Daniel and Florence Cathiard in 1990. The Cathiards manage Château Smith Haut Laffite with great passion and ambition, having elevated the property to the rank of the most beautiful properties of Graves with wines renowned worldwide for their class and style, both in red and in white.

The vineyard
With a superb location, the Château Smith Haut Laffite vineyard covers 78 hectares of vines, which are 40 years old on average. The château uses its own vine plants from a mother vine preserved in their nursery on the island of Lalande.

The winemaking
Manual harvest in small crates. Inert pressing. Fermentation in French oak barrels.

The ageing
12 months ageing. New French oak barrels (50%) and barrels of one previous wine (50%), made at the Smith Haut Lafitte cooperage.

The blend
Sauvignon blanc
(90%), sauvignon gris (5%), sémillon (5%).

The tasting
Tasted en primeur, the Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2019 white is a balanced wine, characteristic of Smith Haut Lafitte and its terroir. The pale yellow colour suggests the youth of the wine. The expressive nose reveals floral and spicy notes on a complex bouquet. On the palate, the attack is tense. The Smith Haut Lafitte white 2019 is polished by a nice acidity and offers a texture of great softness. This magnificent 2019 vintage from Château Smith Haut Laffite will seduce the taster with its aromatic expression, its complexity and its superb acidity-concentration balance.