Taz Tatt
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Review: Château Smith Haut Lafitte – 2 out of 5 Stars
1 star for the stunning estate, 1 star for the guide — and that’s where the positives end.
On my third day in Bordeaux, I was staying at Les Sources de Caudalie, just a short walk from Château Smith Haut Lafitte. Given the beautiful setting, I was excited to visit the estate for a wine tasting.
The property is stunning — a true visual delight. But from the moment I arrived, the hospitality fell surprisingly short. The front desk staff were cold and unwelcoming. When we arrived on time for our reservation, we were told abruptly to wait “until my colleague comes,” with no warmth or explanation. I honestly thought I had misunderstood something, but my friend confirmed she felt the same discomfort.
After waiting 15 minutes, I went back to ask if we had been forgotten. The response, again, was indifferent. Our guide finally arrived — friendly and professional — and immediately brought a sense of ease to the experience. Unfortunately, before we could even begin, one of the front desk staff interrupted with a blunt “First, you pay,” which felt jarring and ungracious.
We had booked The Masterclass Workshop but misunderstood the pricing — €810 per group of 12, not per person. Since there were only two of us, we would have had to cover the full amount. Thankfully, our guide helped us change to the A Taste of Paradise package (€209), more suitable for a small group. Still, the cost felt high compared to other wine tastings in the region.
Even after that, the reception team’s attitude remained cold, making us feel unwelcome in a place that should feel special. I appreciated the professionalism and kindness of our guide — she took us to the tower for a vineyard view, shared the château’s fascinating history, and led us through the cellars with enthusiasm.
We tasted three wines:
• Les Hauts de Smith 2020
• Château Smith Haut Lafitte Grand Cru Classé 2018
• Château Smith Haut Lafitte Blanc 2022
The wines were lovely — though the tasting pours were extremely small. Not that I expected large servings, but having done multiple tastings in Bordeaux by this point, this was noticeably minimal. That, combined with the earlier friction, made it hard to fully enjoy the experience.
And for anyone wondering — if you look at my other reviews, including my stay at Les Sources de Caudalie and my dinner at La Grand’Vigne, you’ll see I’m not one to criticize lightly. This review comes solely from the experience I had — no bias, just honest disappointment.
If the hospitality had matched the beauty of the place, this could have been a highlight. Sadly, it wasn’t.
