Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte label

Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte 2000

Red Wine

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Item# 1721-00

Technical data

Yields: 32 hectolitres per hectare (divided between the grand vin and the second wine)
Fermentation: traditional, at 28°-32°C
Aged for 18 months in oak barrels (80% new) made at the chateau cooperage.
This wine will be at its best between 2005 and… the middle of the 21st century.

Weather

The weather in the year 2000 was full of surprises. Just before the year began, in December 1999, hurricane-force gales devastated many parts of Bordeaux, but fortunately spared our vines and cellars. A much more pleasant surprise was the excellent Indian summer that ripened grapes to perfection. Weather during the 2000 growing season was characterised by extremes and contrasts. The variations in temperature and humidity obviously had a major effect on the vines. Flowering occurred homogenously, a week later than normal. Cool periods were followed by hot, dry weather, especially in August, which had the highest average temperatures in the past 25 years. After a hot, dry summer, picking of our 11 hectares of white wine varieties started on September 5th. The exceptional weather at harvest time allowed us to wait until the grapes reached peak ripeness on each plot.