Château Smith Haut Lafitte, Grand Cru Classé de Graves

One of the finest terroirs of Pessac-Leognan …

A little bit of history

Château Smith Haut Lafitte is the heir of the noble family Du Bosq created in 1365. Since this time the family related to the Duke of Valois about the exceptional potential of this region. That said, then they began activities of viticulture this place.
A few centuries later, in the French Revolution, the castle was bought by George Smith; a Scottish man that stood in Bordeaux for the wine merchant.

In 1958 the property was purchased again by the Eschenauer family, family that through the years assured the promotion of the name of the Château Smith Haut Lafitte.

In 1990 following a real “coup de coeur” for the Château Smith Haut Lafitte Daniel (DC) and Florence Cathiard (CF) bought this property and then embarked on major renovations. These renovations were both in terms of the vine and the quality of the buildings (building restoration, building an underground cellar, equipment renewal). The leitmotiv at their time? Arise this prestigious (property) that was asleep in a unique potential.

Actually even if this entrepreneur winemaker couple succeeded brilliantly defeated them “they are not resting on their laurels” each year they seek to go even further in quality and respect for the environment (see “bio precision” below).

Where does the name “Smith Haut Lafitte” come from?

It probably will not have escaped from your eyes that the name is a composed one. Originally named Château Haut Lafitte which means “on the hill” in Old French, the name “Smith” was attached in the eighteenth century by the owner of the time, the Scotsman George Smith.

What does the coat of arms of the Château Smith Haut Lafitte mean?

The arms of Smith Haut Lafitte tells the stories of its first owners. It is composed of lilies, showing the support of the family Du Bosq to the King of France during the Crusades. The crescent moon was added by George Smith in reference to the port of Bordeaux called “Harbor of the Moon,” a place where he made his fortune. At the time the merchant ships were in the harbor of Bordeaux. As long as the “three pillars form” overlooking the crescent moon it means that George Smith was the third son of the family.

How did your passion for wine came to you?

Florence Cathiard´s passion for the world of wine did not come naturally. From a young age he dreamed to be like his ski champion idol “Jean-Claude Killy and Marielle Goitschel“, he gave him this advice: “you should drink a glass of red Bordeaux the day before a race because it helps to rest without slowing the journey “.
On the day of her marriage to Daniel Cathiard a good number of guests offered them bottles of great wines from Bordeaux. The young couple that did not know so much about small or great wines, they use to open them regularly during their meals. Florence and him, gradually started learning and enjoying the wonderful diversity of flavors of the wines of Bordeaux.

Regarding Daniel Cathiard, we can say that his first encounter with the world of wine dates back to his childhood in Savoy, where his grandfather was the wine merchant, took him to the barrels. Then for years Daniel Cathiard was devoted to his own sporting career (i.e. skiing champion) and the that world, consequently (founding the family shops GO SPORT).
During a trip in Bordeaux he and his wife had a “coup de coeur” for the Château Smith Haut Lafitte, a property that was in great lack of maintenance in terms of both buildings of the vine.
Florence was responsible for a large advertising Franco-American company. In his case, a traveler for his company GO SPORT. They both tired of “running” around the world for their jobs sold / left their firms to engage in the great adventure of viticulture.

How do you see your job?

FC: As a “complete” business, that requires a lot of “versatility“. Florence Cathiard likes to describe herself as “a peasant/farmer in the morning, a business woman at noon, and a lady in the evening.”
“When we are away from our vineyards too long, we miss them and they miss us”

Wine in three words for you, are those?

DC: “a product of civilization“, a “lifestyle“, “wine is France”

Tell me about your wine

DC: “This wine is wanting to be natural, seeking their truth in the depths of their terroir. Wines combining modernity (technical precision, better knowledge of the fruit and the plant) and traditions (the work remained the same for generations). Making wine is like the quest for the absolute and perfect. ”

Which is the signature wine of Château Smith Haut Lafitte ?

FC and DC “Expressing serious gunziennes content in the soil. A taste of smoke that comes from flint, small semi-precious stones. ”

Features:

• 67 hectares
• 11hectares for the white
• 55hectares for the red
• Practice “bio precision” (see below what it is)
• Ageing: White during 11 months in barrels (light toast), red during 18 months in barrels (medium toast more). Château Smith Haut Lafitte is part of one of the four castles of Bordeaux to have its own “barrelmaker.”
• Blending: Château Smith Haut Lafitte (red): 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, 9% Cabernet Franc, Château Smith Haut Lafitte (white) 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris, 5% Semillon
• Soil: gunziennes serious, serious, flint pebbles, sand, limestone
• Production: 120,000 bottles of Château Smith Haut Lafitte red, 30,000 bottles of Château Smith Haut Lafitte and 125,000 bottles of white wine 2nd (Les Hauts de Smith and Petit Haut Lafitte)

“Bio precision” what is it?

“Bio- precision” is an approach that combines modernity (in the vineyard and the winery), environmental, soil and plant (including eliminating the use of any chemical input). The goal is to recreate biodiversity in the ecosystem in order to fight against the natural hazards that threaten the vine. This results in the use of grass, hedge planting, removal of chemicals additives, the use of organic compost, planting hedges around the vineyard to protect as well as the use of horses on some plots for plowing / décavaillonnage (indeed that is visible to the public). To summarize, the bio accuracy is the alliance between modern technology and respect for the land and respect for the tradition.

The “wine anecdote”:

When Daniel and Florence Cathiard acquired the Château Smith Haut Lafitte they also bought out the largest possible number of bottles around the world in order to have the oldest vintages bottles of Smith Haut Lafitte that is possible.
Currently the oldest is a vintage 1878. All these precious vials are stored in “paradise”, a small private underground cellar where wine and art are fusion into one.
Being great lovers of art, each year the castle acquires new works. You will find these works in different buildings, Caudalie, in cellars or in the vineyards.

The « plus » of this property: LES SOURCES DE CAUDALIE

It is a 5-star hotel complex, spa, massage center and especially a vino therapy place. This complex was created by the daughter of Daniel and Florence Cathiard. Moreover, it is her the one who manages the place.
Vino therapy, … what is it?
It is the use of beneficial properties of the grapes (marc, grape, seeds, wine) in favor of aesthetics and well-being. Generally these take the form of care baths, massage, spa treatment or creams.

Ok, brief, let´s pass to the tasting!

Well, as you’ve probably noticed we could write a novel or even more on this property, then it’s best to get to go there!

Thanks to Daniel and Florence Cathiard and their team for hosting.

Choukroun Chicheportiche Jonathan

Château Smith Haut Lafitte
33650 Bordeaux Martillac, France
Tél. +33 (05)5 57 83 11 22
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