Château Smith Haut Lafitte What promises can we expect for the 2015 harvest?

Passing through BordeauxI took the opportunity to accompany a group of Cavissima clients on a tour of the Château Smith Haut LafitteThis is an opportunity to take stock of the harvest and see what this promises us. Bordeaux 2015...

Extremely rare characteristics and specific requirements for winemaking

Nothing is left to chance in this domaine of 80 hectares surrounded by oak and chestnut forests. The mastery of good and of Bio-Precision is present at every stage. The harvesting strategy is partly dictated by drones that constantly analyze the degree of ripeness of the grapes The information collected allows us to establish the order in which they will the plots harvestedThis year the grape harvest lasted a month and ended on October 13th. Therefore, it is not a early year, as may have been the case in the regions of Burgundy, of Beaujolais and of the Rhône Valley.

A optical sorting machine is operational during the grape harvest and allows for separate the berries conforming to the specifications of those that might present a defect: Rot, grape size, color.

The choice to produce the wine in-house

THE Château Smith Haut Lafitte produces its own barrels in one of its workshops. In-house production offers the advantage of even greater care on the wood selection which will make up the barrel and, above all, adapt " the heating "Depending on the company's requirements. Here, we are looking for a light heating to avoid excessive wood grain. This parameter is strategic for thewinemaking.

In a very rare occurrence, the whites are, after light pressing, directly packaged in oak barrels in which they will do their alcoholic fermentationThis method offers several advantages and allows the wine to become particularly mellow.

THE reds are the subject of light maceration and a gentle extraction Three times a day, the winery teams take turns to carry out the samplingThis is abouthelp the berries empty slowly drain their juices and bring the solid parts back into contact with the juice. The skin and the seeds providing the coloring matter and the tannins essential to the balanced construction of a wine.

Château Smith Haut Lafitte 2015: a harbinger of a great vintage in limited quantities

The plots of vieilles vignes Cabernet Sauvignon (up to 70 years old) will be the last to be harvestedWe were able to taste the grapes: the the bunches are beautiful and well-stockedThe maturity seems very uniform, but the berries are small in size. THE The juice is sweet and aromatic., there skin is thick and the The seeds are incredibly sweet without any astringency.The obvious signs of a lovely phenolic maturity are present. Harvesting grapes in September has the advantage of benefiting from a thermal amplitude between day and night, a necessary condition for the production of aromas. 2015 was a good year for all grape varieties: sauvignon blanc, semillon, merlot, cabernet sauvignon and cabernet francThis is the mark of the great vintages.

At Château Smith Haut LafitteWe rejoice, as everywhere in the Bordelais 2015 will be a very great year. Certainly not as good as 2010 – which is increasingly appearing as the reference vintage In absolute terms, the 2015 vintage should, without any comparison, fall in qualitative terms between the 2010 and 2009 vintages on the one hand, and the 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 vintages on the other.

There winemaking is certainly not finished, but we are heading towards fairly average returns that could be 10 to 20% lower than the average returns across the board Bordeaux vineyards.

Tasting notes: a white wine at its peak and a red wine still closed for the 2011 vintage.

The visit to Château ends with a lovely wine tasting from 2011 vintage.

Château Smith Haut Lafitte blanc 2011 a pure marvel

THE wine has entered its peak and suggests that he will remain there for many years to come. Powerful noseWithout being aggressive, he proposes a subtle blend of spices, offresh citrus fruits, of passion fruit and ofstar anise. Pure bliss, the The mouth is opulent presenting a tangy attack which gives way to a texture both soft and slightly iodine-like. This minerality It is a sign of the terroir; it is also a guarantee of aging. The wine is of a incredible lengthA great success.

Château Smith Haut Lafitte Red 2011: to be kept

Still very closed and immature 2011 presents a A supple nose marked by fruitOn the palate, the texture is straightforward, generous, and the The tannin structure is simply deliciously velvety. The wood is still slightly present. To be stored in storage cellar for several more years.

And as an added bonus, a selection of wines!

Note that the Château Smith Haut Lafitte offers two second wines: Smith Heights And le Petit Haut LafitteWe had the pleasure of tasting this last one in the 2012 vintage length, material suppleness of tanninsWood is scarce. It has all the features of a great product, but at a lower price..