Harmony with Nature: Château Smith Haut Lafitte's Philosophy
Praise for the balance in life is an enduring mantra at Château Smith Haut Lafitte. Everything comes from the soil and at Château Smith Haut Lafitte, they do their utmost to respect nature and biodiversity, both within the vineyards and the cellar.
Sustainable Practices: Respecting Biodiversity
Château Smith Haut Lafitte plants new vines propagated from their own vineyards thanks to their vine nursery on Île de Lalande. This island’s protected ecosystem enables them to maintain their vine’s genetic diversity and thus the complexity of their wines. The Château, in Pessac Léognan, Graves, is surrounded by forests, hedges and hives; their single 87ha vineyard stands alone as one block on the estate, a beautiful green island.
Terroir: A Unique Expression
The top soil comprises mainly gravels, Graves Gunziennes, which forces the vine roots to dig down more than 6m to find the necessary resources, whilst the grapes benefit from the stones’ mirror effect from the sun allowing for perfect ripening. This terroir gives the wines extraordinary characteristics; whites are subtly smoky, reds are smooth and complex.
Celebrating Tradition: The 2015 Vintage
The Grand Vin from 2015 vintage celebrates the 650th anniversary of Smith Haut Lafitte since 1365. Whole berries are fermented in small wooden vats at 28°C with manual pigeages (punch-downs). Ageing lasts 18 months on the lees in French oak barrels which are crafted by the Château’s on-site cooperage - sixty percent of which are new.
