Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Les Hauts de Smith

Pessac-Léognan

2023

Vintage

Varietal

Bordeaux Blend

ABV

Peak 2029-2038

Where it is, June 2026

Approaching Peak: drinkable, but best years are ahead.

In 2026 the 2023 Les Hauts de Smith red sits exactly at window_open, with peak coming 2029 through 2038. Right now this is a young second wine showing dark purple color, dense primary fruit, and firm tannin structure that has not yet relaxed. The Cathiard team designs Les Hauts to drink earlier than the grand vin, but 2026 is still on the tight side; the wine rewards either a 90-minute decant now or another three to seven years in bottle. By 2029 the dark cherry and cassis aromatics fold into more graphite and tobacco notes, the tannins polish out, and the saline mineral edge that defines top Pessac-Léognan reds emerges. The wine remains in confident peak through 2038 with slow decline thereafter. See [Bordeaux peers](/wines/region/bordeaux) and the [Bordeaux Blend hub](/wines/varietal/bordeaux-blend) for sibling cuvees including the same-vintage [Le Petit Haut Lafitte Red](/wines/chateau-smith-haut-lafitte/le-petit-haut-lafitte-red/2023).

Related vintages

The ‘23 Les Hauts de Smith.

Smith Haut Lafitte's red second wine enters its window in 2026, dark and fruit-forward, built for fifteen years of structured but approachable drinking.

Drinking window

The arcYou are here · approaching peak, 2026

Tasting note

The 2023 Les Hauts de Smith is dark purple in the glass, a Pessac-Léognan red leading aromatically with ripe smoky black fruit, black cherry, cassis, fresh herbs, and saline mineral notes that distinguish Smith Haut Lafitte from its peers. The palate is crisp and fruit-forward, with pronounced tannins giving the wine grip and liveliness across a substantial length. The aromatic nose is inviting and immediately recognizable: this is a Cabernet-led blend from a producer that prizes vineyard precision and gravity-fed cellar work. The dark-fruit core is supported by mid-palate herbal accents and a smoky undertone from the cooperage; the finish carries the saline edge through. Built to peak at the decade mark, the 2023 reads young and dense in 2026 - this is a wine to lay down or to decant aggressively if opened now. Structural Cabernet character with the polish of a property that has reshaped Pessac-Léognan winemaking over the last three decades.

The 2023 vintage

The 2023 vintage in Bordeaux is the fresh, light, charming counterpoint to the dense fruit of 2022. A mild winter led to early budbreak, copious flowering produced high yields, and humid summer brought rampant mildew pressure that demanded vineyard precision. Heat waves in mid-August and early September shifted the season decisively, and producers who managed the mildew and thinned their crop ended up with light, fresh, charming reds rather than blockbusters. Wine Spectator rated the vintage 90 points (Outstanding) and recommends drinking or holding. For Pessac-Léognan reds, the late-season warmth concentrated the dark fruit while preserving structural acidity, which is exactly the profile Les Hauts captures.

About Château Smith Haut Lafitte

Château Smith Haut Lafitte is run by Daniel and Florence Cathiard, who purchased the Pessac-Léognan estate in 1990 and rebuilt it into one of the most consistent Cru Classé Graves properties. Winemaking is directed by Fabien Teitgen with a strong biodynamic and integrated-vineyard ethos: cover crops, hand harvest, gravity-fed cellar work, and long maceration with gentle extraction. Les Hauts de Smith is the second wine, drawing on younger vines and parcels selected for earlier-drinking style. The blend is Cabernet Sauvignon-led with Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and a small percentage of Petit Verdot, aged in a mix of new and used French oak for around 14 months. The result is a structured but accessible Pessac-Léognan red that drinks ten years earlier than the grand vin.

From the cellar: pair with

Grilled ribeye with bordelaise sauce and roasted shallots

The wine''s firm tannins and ripe black fruit handle the fat and char of ribeye while bordelaise''s reduction-based depth mirrors the saline mineral edge.

Roast duck with cherry-port reduction

Les Hauts'' dark cherry and cassis aromatics track the fruit-driven reduction while the wine''s saline edge and herbal mid-palate balance the duck''s richness and the smoky undertone complements the rendered fat.

Aged Manchego with quince paste and Marcona almonds

The wine''s pronounced tannins find a structural counterpoint in long-aged Manchego, the quince fruit echoes the dark berry profile, and the polished tannin texture handles Marcona almond richness.

Service & cellaring

Serving Temp: 60-64F (16-18C)
Decanting: Decant 90 minutes in 2026 (early window) to soften the firm tannins and open the dark-fruit aromatics. From 2029 (peak start) onward, a 45-60 minute decant is sufficient. At full peak from 2032, decant briefly or splash-pour.
Cellar Storage: 55F (13C), 65-75% humidity, bottle on its side, no vibration.

Track this bottle Read the Pessac-Léognan guide

The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.

Frequently Asked

When should I drink Les Hauts de Smith 2023?

The drinking window opens in 2026 and peak runs 2029 to 2038. In 2026 the wine is at window-open but still tight on tannin and primary fruit. The most informative bottles arrive between 2029 and 2034 when the dark fruit folds into graphite and tobacco and the saline minerality emerges fully.

Do I need to decant this wine?

Yes, especially in 2026-2029. Decant 90 minutes in the early-window phase to soften the pronounced tannins and let the dark-fruit aromatics breathe. From 2029 onward (peak), 45-60 minutes is right. At full peak from 2032, decant briefly or splash-pour - the saline mid-palate develops within minutes.

What food pairs with Les Hauts de Smith?

The wine handles classic red-meat preparations: grilled ribeye with bordelaise, roast duck with cherry-port, lamb with rosemary and garlic, and aged hard cheeses like Manchego or Comté. Avoid delicate fish or vegetable-led dishes - the firm tannins overwhelm them.

How does this compare to the grand vin Smith Haut Lafitte?

Les Hauts is the second wine: younger vines, less new oak, and a shorter peak window (peak 2029-2038 vs 15-20 years for the grand vin). It drinks ten years earlier than the grand vin with a similar Cabernet-led signature but less density. The grand vin builds deeper graphite, cedar, and pencil-lead complexity; Les Hauts prizes immediate fruit and polished tannin.

How should I cellar this bottle?

Store the bottle on its side at 55F (13C), 65-75% humidity, with minimal vibration. The cork needs to stay wet to seal the 15-year aging window. A passive cellar or wine fridge both work; a warm closet does not.