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

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Located 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 provided by the exquisite Cabernet Francs from the foothills 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.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the estate:

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

About the estate:

By incorporating all the advancements of modern, well-executed winemaking, Stephan von Neiperg has, in less than ten years and with the help of Stéphane Derenoncourt, restored the wine to its 1950s glory. Promoted 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 groundwork using a collection of massal selections of Cabernet Franc and carefully chosen rootstocks, "with the aim of building a vineyard for the next fifty to sixty years." The warm, early-ripening soils at the foot of the hillside are ideally suited to these Cabernet Francs, which bring finesse and nobility to the wine’s tannic structure. The sacrifice of some volume explains the extraordinary, yet unpretentious, concentration of recent vintages.

Vinous

About the wine:

The 2021 Canon-La-Gaffelière is magnificent, but it’s still very closed right now. I consider this 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 potential are truly remarkable. I look forward to tasting it after it has aged in the bottle. Bright 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

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

The nose is remarkably refined, with a floral and ethereal quality that is truly unique. The blend consists of 45% Cabernet Franc and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon, and this is evident, including in the noble vegetal notes that emerge throughout the aromatic profile. A lovely, juicy palate—feline and silky, once again airy in texture—with a profile defined by very subtle bitterness and exceptionally delicate tannins. A racy and highly accomplished 2021.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

What vibrancy, elegance, and freshness this wine possesses! Subtle and lively, it is well-structured, precise, and supported by tannins that are certainly firm but, above all, refined. Paradoxically, the wine gains depth as time goes on, 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 challenge will be resisting the urge to drink it. It’s worth tasting regularly—the only question is, do you have enough? 2027–2047

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

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 blueberries, and, more subtly, plump, 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 hints of juicy blackcurrant, combined with touches 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.

Tastingbook - Markus Del Monego

About the wine:

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