Torsion 2 at Smith Haut Lafitte
Torsion 2 at Smith Haut Lafitte
(Image credit: Torsion 2 at Smith Haut Lafitte)

British sculptor Charles Hadcock has become the latest artist to have his work displayed among the vines of Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte.

Charles Hadcock, who was born in Derby in 1965, and now lives in Preston, is known for using his interest in engineering and mathematics as inspiration for his works, usually cast in bronze and iron.

Hadcock’s Torsion 2 has now been installed in the vineyard, besides the leaping hare by Irish sculptor Barry Flanagan, Venus de Bordeaux by American Jim Dine and Caduto a Ragione by Italian Mimmo Paladino. In total, there are now 11 large sculptures at the Pessac-Leognan property.

Smith Haut Lafitte’s owner Daniel Cathiard told Decanter.com, ‘What first caught our attention when we discovered the wonderful sculpture was its shape. It reminded us of a vine tendril.’

Daniel and Florence Cathiard buy a sculpture to commemorate each successful vintage they produce – in this case the 2009. A magnum of that year’s red wine has been placed within the structure.

Written by Jane Anson in Bordeaux

Jane Anson
Jane Anson

Jane Anson was Decanter’s Bordeaux correspondent until 2021 and has lived in the region since 2003. She writes a monthly wine column for Hong Kong’s South China Morning Post, and is the author of Bordeaux Legends: The 1855 First Growth Wines (also published in French as Elixirs). In addition, she has contributed to the Michelin guide to the Wine Regions of France and was the Bordeaux and Southwest France author of The Wine Opus and 1000 Great Wines That Won’t Cost a Fortune. An accredited wine teacher at the Bordeaux École du Vin, Anson holds a masters in publishing from University College London, and a tasting diploma from the Bordeaux faculty of oenology.

Roederer awards 2016: International Feature Writer of the Year