Le Petit Haut Lafitte by Smith Haut Lafitte 2012
Bordeaux
Red
Sold individually
Drink or Keep
92/100
Wine Enthusiast
-
15,5/20
Gault & Millau
"One of Château Smith Haut Lafitte's two runners-up, it is distinguished by its predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon blend. This gives the wine superb structure accompanied by ripe tannins and juicy black fruit. It comes from the vineyard's young vines, with the exhuberance of youth reflected in this wine's fruity character." (Wine Enthusiast 2015) Delivery in wooden cases for orders delivered in France of 6 bottles of this wine.
Features
Estate
Château Smith Haut Lafitte
Cuvée
Le Petit Haut Lafitte
Vintage
2012
Designation
Pessac-Léognan
Region
Bordeaux
Grape varieties
55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot
Viticulture
traditional and meticulous
Harvest
at optimum maturity
Winemaking
fermentation in vats. Pigeage and remontage. Maceration between 4 and 6 weeks at 26-28°C.
Breeding
in barrels for 14 months
Tasting & pairing
Eye
dense, brilliant dark red colour
Nose
discreet at first, followed by very dark notes of fruit (blackberry, blackcurrant), spices (clove, black pepper) and hints of smoke and earth.
Mouth
Clean, firm attack. Highly concentrated tannins, but already well integrated. Dense and broad, with good volume and well-defined texture. Length and balance. Complex, aromatic finish of black fruits (blackberry, blackcurrant), spices (clove, licorice), brown tobacco, smoke, flint.
Serve
at 16-18°C
Drink from
2015
Drink before
2018
Food and wine pairing
to enjoy with duck breast with pink pepper, a selection of cheeses...
Château Smith Haut Lafitte
Pessac-Léognan
Expert opinion
Bettane & Desseauve
Domaine rated (2020 guide) 4*Stars (Top-quality producers, the glories of French winegrowing)
About the domain :
A flagship property in Martillac for the quality of its facilities and its openness to wine tourism with the superb Sources de Caudalie establishment (5-star hotel-spa and two-Michelin-starred restaurant, La Grand'Vigne), Smith Haut-Lafitte is also a pioneering vineyard in its category for its viticultural philosophy, which Daniel Cathiard describes as bio-precision, the aim being to combine the best of nature with the best of science. Florence and Daniel Cathiard, who acquired the property in 1991, can be proud of the work accomplished on the 78 hectares of vineyards. Respect for the terroir, precise winemaking, integrated cooperage, dynamic communication: in just a quarter of a century, the Cathiards have become part of the Bordeaux legend! The wines have found their true personality: no more woody excesses, they are now racy, perfectly expressing their terroir and bursting with energy. Hauts-de-smith and le-petit-haut-de-smith receive the same attention as the grand vin, and it shows!
Guide des Vins Gault & Millau
Wine rated (2014 guide) 15.5/20 (Very good)
Domain rated 5*Stars (Outstanding production)
About the wine:
It still needs to loosen up to bring pleasure, as today its chewiness is tight and firm. A wine full of fruit juice for "semi-ageing", already revealing lovely smoky notes and sweet licorice.
About the domain :
The Cathiards are a success story in the French wine industry. After buying the estate in 1990, they turned it towards a quality approach, both in the vineyard and in the cellar, and established it as a top-of-the-range business - including the creation of a vinotherapy center. Like a growing number of châteaux, Smith Haut-Lafitte has adopted a "bio-organic" approach, using organic anti-botrytis agents, massal selections, horse-drawn ploughing, composting...
Robert Parker - Wine Advocate
Domain rated Recommended (Wine producer recommended by Robert Parker - The Wine Advocate)
About the domain :
RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France
Domaine rated (2020 guide) 2*Stars (These great estates, often blessed with fabulous terroirs, are must-haves which, because of their consistency and the excellence of their production, must be included in the cellars of discerning wine lovers).
About the domain :
This estate has come a long way since Florence and Daniel Cathiard bought it in 1990. From a ruined cru classé and a virtually abandoned vineyard, these two neo-winegrowers, trained in the school of supermarket distribution in the case of the former and in communications in the case of the latter, have made a name for themselves. Firstly, to produce a wine that is undoubtedly among the elite of Bordeaux production, and secondly, to make Smith Haut-Lafitte an essential stopover for wine tourism. If the wines were at first a little too mature and woody, their style has been greatly refined over the last ten years. The texture of the reds, the measure of extractions and the more delicate tannic masses are all part of a more contemporary, less demonstrative taste. The whites have also followed this trend, with the influence of ageing much less pronounced in recent vintages. Smith Haut-Lafitte wines are enjoying international success and strong price growth.
Wine Enthusiast
Wine rated (2015 guide) 92/100
About the wine:
One of Château Smith Haut Lafitte's two runners-up, it is distinguished by its blend of predominantly Cabernet Sauvignon. This gives the wine superb structure accompanied by ripe tannins and juicy, dark fruit. It comes from the vineyard's young vines, with the exhuberance of youth reflected in the wine's fruity character.
Customer reviews
Customer rating
4/5
on 5 reviews
Note and review by M. GILLES L. Published on 28/09/2024
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Note and review by M. BERNARD P. Published on 30/03/2021
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Note and review by M. HERVE C. Published on 12/07/2018
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Note and review by M. CHRISTOPHE D. Published on 07/05/2018
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Note and review by M. GAETAN B. Published on 28/12/2016
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