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

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

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 an oenologist and agronomist with a degree from Montpellier and whose family owns extensive vineyards in Wurtenberg, has become one of the most dynamic and innovative winemakers in the Libourne region. Knowing how to play on both the power of the constitution and the finesse provided by the delicious Cabernet Franc from the pied de côte, he has restored full expression to the château's wines, which fully deserve their new status as premier grand cru classé.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the domain :

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

In less than ten years, Stephan von Neiperg, with the help of Stéphane Derenoncourt, has restored the wine to its 1950s stature, incorporating all the advances of modern, well-managed oenology. Promoted to the rank of premier grand cru classé, certified organic in 2014 (an example that should leave a lasting impression), the estate is continuing its in-depth work based on a collection of Cabernet Franc massal selections and good rootstock choices, "with the aim of building a vineyard for the next fifty and sixty years". The warm, early-ripening soils of the hillside are ideally suited to these Cabernet Francs, which add finesse and nobility to the wine's tannic structure. The sacrifice of some of the volume explains the extraordinary concentration, but without artifice, of recent vintages.

Vinous

About the wine:

Canon-La-Gaffelière 2021 is magnificent, but it's still very closed today. I see this as a positive for its long-term prospects, but readers will have to be patient. Canon-La-Gaffelière's 2021 is super classic, bursting with floral and mineral accents. Its energy and breeding are truly remarkable. I can't wait to taste it after bottle ageing. Bright saline notes prolong the long, beautifully persistent finish. The 2021 was aged 40% in new oak, 20% in vats and the rest in used oak and 400-liter barrels. This wine is truly bursting with energy. 2031-2061

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

Lots of distinction on the nose, with a singular floral and airy component. The blend is 45% Cabernet Franc and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and you can feel it, even in the noble vegetal aromas. A lovely juicy mouthfeel, feline and silky, again airy in texture, a tracing profile signed by very fine bitters and a great delicacy of tannins. A racy, highly accomplished 2021.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

What spirit, elegance and freshness in this wine! Subtle and lively, the wine is focused, precise and carried by tannins that may be tight, but are above all precise. Paradoxically, the wine gains in dimension as the minutes go by, finally underlining its elegance and even a little roundness! A beautiful wine with fruity and floral nuances. I think it's more than capable of spending many years in the cellar, although the challenge is knowing how to stand up to it. Try it regularly, if you have enough ???? 2027-2047

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is elegant, racy and distinguished, with a fine grain and a lovely finesse in its power. Notes of wild blackberry, bright blue berries and, to a lesser extent, fleshy/juicy wild strawberry are combined with hints of violet, cherry blossom and a subtle hint of bergamot and salinity. Fruity on the palate, with juiciness, suavity, a mineral framework, lovely bitter work, fine unctuosity, finesse and lovely purity of fruit. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of roasted cherry, pulpy/sparkling raspberry and, more lightly, juicy blackcurrant, combined with hints of juicy/ripe red berries, lily, blueberry, nutmeg, licorice and a very discreet hint of caramelization and salinity.

Tastingbook - Markus Del Monego

About the wine:

A refined wine of great tension and precision, dark purple in color with violet highlights and a black core. Very elegant, vibrant fruit, blackberry, plum, herbal notes, a touch of fine toast in the background. An energetic Canon-la-Gaffelière, with great freshness and excellent length.