{"product_id":"chateau-smith-haut-lafitte-pessac-leognan-2020","title":"Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Leognan 2020","description":"\u003cp\u003eChâteau Smith Haut Lafitte Pessac-Léognan 2020 is a benchmark red Bordeaux from one of Graves’ most celebrated estates. This is a deeply concentrated, sculpted wine that marries power with finesse, crafted from old vines and among the top-rated wines of the vintage. Combining classic Cabernet structure with Merlot’s plush fruit, it offers both immediate seduction and serious aging potential.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn the glass, the 2020 Smith Haut Lafitte shows a dark, opaque ruby color, almost black at the core, with subtle bluish highlights that hint at its youth and intensity. The nose is very expressive, opening with ripe red and black fruits—think blackcurrant, blackberry, and dark cherry—layered with notes of star anise, licorice, graphite, crushed flint, and subtle empyreumatic tones (smoke, warm stone, and a whisper of toasted oak). A swirl in the glass unfurls a spectrum of spice and mineral nuance.\n\nOn the palate, the wine is broad, powerful, and mouthfilling on the first attack, then quickly reveals a finely chiseled structure wrapped in velvety tannins. The core is packed with juicy black fruits, cassis, and plum, framed by hints of cocoa, cedar, and savory spice, with the estate’s signature gunzian gravel minerality adding lift and definition. Fresh acidity keeps everything in balance, giving the wine an elegant, persistent finish that is both full-bodied and remarkably poised. Built for the long haul, this 2020 has the structure to evolve gracefully for 15–25 years or more in a good cellar, gradually gaining complexity, silkier tannins, and more tertiary notes of tobacco, leather, and truffle.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChâteau Smith Haut Lafitte lies on a superb Günz-era gravel plateau in Pessac-Léognan, where deep gravel over sand and clay provides perfect drainage and forces the vines to root deeply, giving the wines their hallmark minerality and finesse. The 48-year-old vines are low-yielding (around 30 hl\/ha before selection), ensuring great concentration in the fruit. The blend in 2020 is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. Whole berries are fermented at around 28°C in small wooden vats, with very gentle extraction via manual punch-downs to preserve finesse and avoid harsh tannins. The wine is then aged for about 18 months in French oak barrels, 60% of which are new and crafted in the estate’s own cooperage, with extended aging on the lees to enhance texture and complexity. After a single racking, the wine continues its élevage according to its profile, emphasizing precision and balance over sheer power.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood \u0026amp; Serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis is a classic Bordeaux to bring to the table with refined, flavorful cuisine. It pairs beautifully with roast lamb, ribeye or côte de boeuf, venison and other game, duck breast, truffle dishes, and richly sauced poultry. It also works superbly with aged hard cheeses like Comté, Mimolette, or mature cheddar, and earthy dishes featuring mushrooms and root vegetables. Serve at 16–18°C to highlight both structure and aromatic complexity. In its youth, decanting for 1.5–2 hours is recommended to soften the tannins and open up the nose; as the wine matures, a shorter 30–60 minute decant will usually be sufficient, primarily to let any sediment settle and the bouquet blossom.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eChâteau Smith Haut Lafitte is one of the historic estates of Graves, with viticultural roots going back to the 14th century and a reputation solidified in the 18th century under Scottish owner George Smith, whose name the château still bears. Classified among the Crus Classés de Graves, it has become a flagship of Pessac-Léognan under the stewardship of Daniel and Florence Cathiard, who have invested heavily in both vineyard and cellar, embracing sustainable, biodynamic-inspired practices and crafting their own barrels in an on-site cooperage. Today, Smith Haut Lafitte is regarded as one of the leading red and white wine producers in Bordeaux, regularly earning top scores from major critics—as reflected in the 2020 vintage’s near-perfect ratings from James Suckling, Wine Advocate, Jeb Dunnuck, and Vert de Vin—and is widely admired for its combination of elegance, depth, and strong sense of place.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Château Smith Haut Lafitte","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54256314351953,"sku":"VRB0162","price":254.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/0614\/9969\/files\/Roedvin-frankrig-bordeaux-Chateau-Smith-Haut-Lafitte-Pessac-Leognan-2020-75cl-vinogvelsmag.png?v=1783463388","url":"https:\/\/bottlehero.com\/products\/chateau-smith-haut-lafitte-pessac-leognan-2020","provider":"Bottle Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}