Château Canon-la-Gaffelière Saint-Émilion 2021 - 1er Grand Cru Classé B BIO

At the foot of the Saint-Émilion hillside, Canon-la-Gaffelière is the flagship estate of Stephan von Neipperg, who succeeded his father. This German aristocrat—himself a graduate in oenology and agronomy from Montpellier, whose family owns extensive vineyards in Württemberg—has become one of the most dynamic and innovative winemakers in the Libourne region. Skilled at balancing the robust structure with the finesse imparted by the exquisite Cabernet Franc grapes grown at the foot of the hillside, he has restored the château’s wine to its full potential, a wine that fully deserves its new status as a Premier Grand Cru Classé.

 

By incorporating all the advancements of well-executed modern winemaking, Stephan von Neiperg—with the help of Stéphane Derenoncourt—has, in less than ten years, restored the wine to the stature it enjoyed in the 1950s. Elevated to the rank of Premier Grand Cru Classé and certified organic in 2014 (an example that should leave a lasting impression), the estate continues its in-depth work based on a collection of massal selections of Cabernet Franc and carefully chosen rootstocks, “with the goal of building a vineyard for the next fifty to sixty years.” The warm, early-ripening soils at the base of the hillside are ideally suited to these Cabernet Franc vines, which lend finesse and nobility to the wine’s tannic structure. The sacrifice of some yield explains the extraordinary—yet unpretentious—concentration of recent vintages.

The 2021 Canon-La-Gaffelière is magnificent, but it’s still very closed right now. I see this as a positive sign for its long-term potential, but readers will need to be patient. The 2021 Canon-La-Gaffelière is a classic wine, brimming with floral and mineral notes. Its energy and aging profile are truly remarkable. I can’t wait to taste it after letting it age in the bottle. Vibrant saline notes extend the long, beautifully persistent finish. The 2021 was aged 40% in new oak, 20% in tanks, and the remainder in used oak and 400-liter barrels. This wine is truly bursting with energy. 2031–2061

The nose is remarkably refined, with a truly unique floral and airy character. The blend consists of 45% Cabernet Franc and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and you can really taste it—including in the noble vegetal notes that emerge throughout the aromatic profile. A lovely, juicy wine on the palate—feline and silky, with an airy texture—featuring a profile defined by very subtle bitter notes and exceptionally delicate tannins. A refined and highly accomplished 2021.

What vibrancy, elegance, and freshness in this wine! Subtle and lively, the wine is well-structured, precise, and supported by tannins that are certainly firm but, above all, precise. Paradoxically, the wine gains depth as the minutes pass, ultimately highlighting its elegance and even a touch of roundness! A truly beautiful wine with fruity and floral nuances. I think it has more than enough potential to age for many years in the cellar, though the real challenge will be resisting the urge to drink it. It’s worth tasting regularly—but will there be enough to go around???? 2027–2047

The nose is elegant, refined, and distinguished, offering a lovely, fine texture and a beautiful balance of finesse and power. It reveals notes of wild blackberry, vibrant blue berries, and, more subtly, fleshy, juicy wild strawberries, combined with hints of violet, cherry blossom, a subtle touch of bergamot, and a hint of salinity. The palate is fruity, offering juiciness, smoothness, a mineral backbone, well-balanced bitterness, a delicate creaminess, finesse, and lovely purity of fruit. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of roasted cherry, plump and vibrant raspberry, and, to a lesser extent, juicy blackcurrant, combined with hints of juicy, ripe red berries, along with subtle hints of lily and blueberry, as well as subtle hints of nutmeg and licorice, and a very subtle hint of caramelization and salinity.

A refined wine, full of intensity and precision, with a deep purple color, violet highlights, and a black core. Very elegant, with vibrant fruit—blackberry, plum—and notes of aromatic herbs, along with a subtle hint of toast in the background. An energetic Canon-la-Gaffelière, with great freshness and excellent length.