92 points “The 2016 Les Hauts de Smith is pliant racy and inviting. This Merlot-based wine offers tons of early accessibility and sheer appeal. Super-ripe red cherry raspberry mint rose petal and dried flowers add grace throughout. A range of striking floral/savoury Cabernet Sauvignon aromatics add complexity while the Merlot is felt in the wine's fleshiness.” – Antonio Galloni
Iconic Pessac-Léognan-based producer Château Smith Haut Lafitte has two second wines. Both are exceptional but the cashmere-like Les Hauts de Smith is our personal favourite as it gives Merlot the limelight offering an early-drinking counterpoint to the Grand Vin. Daniel and Florence Cathiard have proven that they can deliver in any vintage but in 2016 – a fabulous vintage rated as “extraordinary” by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – this is blow-your-socks-off stuff. With gorgeously ripe red and black fruit spice and vanilla flavours this is a seductive style of wine that’s perfect for romancing. And you can save the world while you do it because Smith Haut Lafitte farm organically and self-sustainably even following a number of biodynamic techniques.
Winemaking on the lieu-dit of Lafitte can be traced back to the 14th Century but it was bought in 1720 by a Scot called George Smith who added his name to it creating what we know today as Smith Haut Lafitte. Jump forward to 1990 and ownership fell to Florence Cathiard and her Olympic skiing champion husband Daniel. This dynamic duo modernised drastically and elevated this Grand Cru Classé in Martillac to a level that competes with its prestigious rivals further north on the Left Bank but often at a more appealing price point. On top of which due to their pioneering stance on organic winegrowing they were asked to present at the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Paris in 2015. Forward-thinking business obviously runs in the family as Florence and Daniel’s daughter Mathilde Thomas-Cathiard and her husband Bertrand Thomas brought the world Caudalie a much-loved skin care line that uses grape seeds and vine cuttings inspired by her parents’ work.
SKU No.: 3466010
Style No.: 886030
Region: Bordeaux
Grapes: Merlot,Cabernet Sauvignon
Closure: Cork
Alcohol by volume (ABV): 13.5%
Volume: 750ml
Allergens: Sulphites
92 points “The 2016 Les Hauts de Smith is pliant racy and inviting. This Merlot-based wine offers tons of early accessibility and sheer appeal. Super-ripe red cherry raspberry mint rose petal and dried flowers add grace throughout. A range of striking floral/savoury Cabernet Sauvignon aromatics add complexity while the Merlot is felt in the wine's fleshiness.” – Antonio Galloni
Iconic Pessac-Léognan-based producer Château Smith Haut Lafitte has two second wines. Both are exceptional but the cashmere-like Les Hauts de Smith is our personal favourite as it gives Merlot the limelight offering an early-drinking counterpoint to the Grand Vin. Daniel and Florence Cathiard have proven that they can deliver in any vintage but in 2016 – a fabulous vintage rated as “extraordinary” by Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – this is blow-your-socks-off stuff. With gorgeously ripe red and black fruit spice and vanilla flavours this is a seductive style of wine that’s perfect for romancing. And you can save the world while you do it because Smith Haut Lafitte farm organically and self-sustainably even following a number of biodynamic techniques.
Winemaking on the lieu-dit of Lafitte can be traced back to the 14th Century but it was bought in 1720 by a Scot called George Smith who added his name to it creating what we know today as Smith Haut Lafitte. Jump forward to 1990 and ownership fell to Florence Cathiard and her Olympic skiing champion husband Daniel. This dynamic duo modernised drastically and elevated this Grand Cru Classé in Martillac to a level that competes with its prestigious rivals further north on the Left Bank but often at a more appealing price point. On top of which due to their pioneering stance on organic winegrowing they were asked to present at the United Nations Climate Change Conference held in Paris in 2015. Forward-thinking business obviously runs in the family as Florence and Daniel’s daughter Mathilde Thomas-Cathiard and her husband Bertrand Thomas brought the world Caudalie a much-loved skin care line that uses grape seeds and vine cuttings inspired by her parents’ work.
SKU No.: 3466010
Style No.: 886030