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Buy any 6 bottles and save 5%. Buy any 12 bottles and save 10% (excludes wines on offer). Free UK delivery on orders over £100. Tel: 02922 337454
2017 Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge, Château Smith Haut Lafitte

2017 Smith Haut Lafitte Rouge, Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Pessac Léognan, Bordeaux, France

The Smoky Tailcoat

Opulent, aromatic and impeccably composed, the 2017 Smith Haut Lafitte unfolds with cassis, blackberry and ripe red cherry, lifted by violet and dried rose. Its darker side emerges gradually: woodsmoke, graphite, forest floor and cocoa, threaded with liquorice, dried herbs and a little cinnamon. Fine oak brings a toasted richness, giving the fruit a handsome frame while leaving plenty of room for the floral detail and freshness to shine.

Generous and deeply textured, the palate carries concentrated fruit through layers of rounded, finely polished tannins. There is real substance here, balanced by an energetic line of acidity that gives the wine lift and keeps its richness beautifully controlled. The finish stretches into smoky mineral notes, spice and lingering berries. Already compelling with a little air and a well-chosen meal, this is a serious, characterful Bordeaux with the structure to reward patient cellaring.

For when: The candles are lit and something magnificent is coming out of the oven.

Pairs with: Roast rib of beef, herb-crusted rack of lamb, venison Wellington, duck breast with wild mushrooms, braised ox cheek or a porcini and lentil pithivier.

A classified growth of Graves, Smith Haut Lafitte takes its name from the Scottish merchant George Smith and the gravel rise on which the vineyard stands. Those ancient river deposits are central to the estate’s identity, providing excellent drainage and encouraging even ripening. The grand vin brings that setting into focus through its combination of dark fruit, aromatic complexity and the smoky character for which the château is celebrated.

Whats in the bottle
60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot

Notable Awards
97+ points, The Wine Advocate

£125.00 - £125.00
£125.00
£125.00 - £125.00
£125.00
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Château Smith Haut Lafitte lies in Martillac, south of Bordeaux, with a vineyard history reaching back to the fourteenth century. George Smith acquired the property in the eighteenth century, giving it the name it carries today. Daniel and Florence Cathiard bought the estate in 1990 and embarked on an extensive programme of restoration and investment, establishing the foundations of its modern reputation.
The vineyard occupies a continuous stretch of Günz gravel, shaped by ancient river activity. These stony soils drain freely and reflect warmth towards the vines, helping fruit ripen in Bordeaux’s maritime climate. Woodland, orchards and beehives surround the vineyards, forming part of the estate’s commitment to biodiversity.
Winemaker and managing director Fabien Teitgen oversees a philosophy that combines close observation of the vineyard with precise cellar work. Organic certification followed in 2019, after a three-year conversion, while an estate nursery and an on-site cooperage give the team unusually close control over both planting material and barrels. This attention to detail supports wines that combine generous texture with freshness and definition.

The 2017 is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, from estate vines averaging 38 years old. Grapes were harvested by hand and carefully sorted. Yields were 35 hectolitres per hectare before selection for the estate’s three red wines.
Fermentation took place with whole berries in small wooden vats at 28°C. Manual punching down extracted colour and tannin, building the wine’s concentration while retaining a finely textured structure.
The wine matured for 18 months in French oak barrels, 60% new, with barrels produced in the estate’s own cooperage. Ageing included time on the lees and a single racking, with subsequent maturation adjusted to the character of each lot.
Alcohol: 14%. Recommended drinking window: 2026–2038.

Wine-Searcher Retailer Awards 2026/27 Gold, Overall List in Cardiff