Smith Haut Lafitte: The Vineyard of the Kings of Aquitaine and Bordeaux (French edition) by Jean-Pierre Méric

Write the story of a classified growth of Bordeaux may seem obvious, given its seemingly established reputation. Yet, with Smith Haut Lafitte: The Vineyard of the Kings of Aquitaine and Bordeaux, , Jean-Pierre Méric demonstrates all the richness and uniqueness of a terroir that embodies the evolution of Bordeaux vineyard.

Medieval tenants of the Sainte-Croix Abbey in Bordeaux to the renaissance orchestrated by Florence and Daniel Cathiard, the author retraces the significant stages of this field located at the heart of the Graves of Bordeaux. This vineyard, described by Sandrine Lavaud as a "matrix space of Bordeaux viticulture," has traversed the centuries with remarkable consistency, while undergoing profound transformations.

We come across the Bourdieu de Maujan, which became the country house of the Douzon de Bourran family, then the prominent figure of Duffour-Dubergier, mayor of Bordeaux, inventor of the 1855 classification, and the true creator of the current vineyard. This colorful character, nicknamed the "King of Aquitaine," embodies the spirit of grandeur and vision that shaped Smith Haut Lafitte.

But this monograph is not limited to the internal history of the estate. It places the fate of Smith Haut Lafitte in the broader context of the Serious and of the Bordeaux wine : the devastating winter of 1709, the plagues of powdery mildew and phylloxera, absence from the famous 1855 classification, all events that have marked the winemaking history of the Gironde region. These "ups and downs" have not prevented Smith Haut Lafitte from establishing itself among the greats, competing in its successes with the glory of Médoc.

The pen of Jean-Pierre Méric, a geographer by training and passionate about regional history, brings this story to life. Drawing on his research on the Bordeaux vineyard and previous monographs (Château d'Arsac, Château Phélan-Ségur, Château Bessan-Ségur), the author offers an erudite and nuanced perspective on this Grand Cru Classé from Graves.

This book, published by the Presses Universitaires de Bordeaux in the collection Clusters & Vintages, is an essential reference for all enthusiasts of Bordeaux wines, passionate about history and curious to understand the construction of a wine myth.

Book features

• Title : Smith Haut Lafitte: The Vineyard of the Kings of Aquitaine and Bordeaux

• Author : Jean-Pierre Méric

• Formatting : Paperback

• EAN13 : 9782867819216

• ISBN I'm sorry, but that text does not seem to be in French. It appears to be an ISBN number.

• Editor : Presses Universitaires de Bordeaux

• Publication date : August 18, 2016

• Collection : Clusters & Vintages

• Number of pages : 350

• Dimensions : 24 x 16 x 2.1 cm

• Weight : 655 g

• Language : French