Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte: Vineyards
Following their acquisition of the estate, the Cathiards have significantly remodelled the estate and vineyards, and overall the area planted to vines at Château Smith-Haut-Lafitte has increased. In particular, 5 hectares of vines around the site of Les Sources de Caudalie were pulled up, and Cabernet Sauvignon was planted on more suitable, more gravelly soils nearby. From a starting point of 56 hectares or thereabouts, the area planted to vines climbed to approximately 78 hectares, with 67 hectares planted to red varieties, at the last count comprising 35% Merlot, 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. The other 11 hectares are planted to white, specifically 90% Sauvignon Blanc, 5% Sauvignon Gris and 5% Semillon.
As for the vines, the average age of these is 38 years in red and 40 years in white, and they are planted on the usual 101.14 and 3309 rootstocks. The planting density is between 7,500 and 10,000 vines per hectare. The soils are typical of the region, mainly Günzian gravel (as pictured). Vineyard management under the Cathiards has moved away from mechanical and chemical influences to a more natural state; in 1992 herbicides were banned, and biological methods of pest control – the use of pheromones to reduce the impact of the grape berry moth – were introduced four years later. Although not officially certified by any one body, overall the work in the vineyards tends towards the organic.
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