Why it matters
The producer
Château Smith Haut Lafitte farms a consolidated estate vineyard in Martillac, within the Pessac-Léognan appellation. Its red wines hold Grand Cru Classé status in the Graves classification. The estate produces six wine lines, with red and white flagships at the centre of the range.
Certified AB organic viticulture includes the use of the estate's own organic compost. Horse drawn carts work the fragile slopes of the white wine vineyard, while the wider farming approach combines innovation and traditional techniques with biodynamic principles.
Place and vineyards
Where the wines begin
Pessac-Léognan is the appellation name used in Martillac, and Grand Cru Classé identifies the château's red wine status within the Graves classification. The vineyard occupies a gravel plateau in one consolidated block.
Gravel drains water quickly and stores heat, physical properties that support ripening in Bordeaux. The vines reach more than 6 metres into the ground, allowing roots to draw water from deeper layers below the plateau.
Wines to know
The range in view
The estate produces six wine lines. The 2025 flagship red blends 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 27% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, with ageing in 50% new French oak.
The 2025 flagship white blends 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Semillon, and 5% Sauvignon Gris. It has 13.5% alcohol by volume and a pH of 3.25. The range therefore covers both Cabernet Sauvignon led red Bordeaux and Sauvignon Blanc led white Bordeaux within the same consolidated estate.