Château La Gaffelière Saint-Emilion 2014 - 1er Grand Cru Classé B

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

One of the standout wines of the vintage on the Right Bank; we’ve reached yet another milestone—the percentage of Cabernet Franc from the hillside has a direct impact on this much more complex vintage. Best enjoyed before 2040.

About the estate:

Ideally located on the hillside that extends from Ausone and leads to Belair-Monange, La Gaffelière has undergone a gentle revolution over the past decade: on half of its 22 hectares, under the guidance of Alexandre Malet-Roquefort (whose family has been in Saint-Émilion since the 15th century), the vineyard’s grape varieties have been optimally repositioned. Merlot vines are being uprooted and replaced with Cabernet Franc, which is being planted on the hillside rather than in the sandy soil. Its proportion in the blend has increased, reaching up to 40% of the final blend. The results are compelling, yielding wines that are more complex and floral, while preserving the fruit and freshness.

Decanter

About the wine:

Things are really coming together at La Gaffelière, with clear progress in terms of precision, balance, and power. The replanted Cabernet Franc has entered its second decade, beginning to express flavors of black pepper, licorice, and delicate floral aromas, adding acidity and power without being overpowering. This is a great wine, with the generosity and impact of a Saint-Emilion Premier Cru Classé, which is slowly gaining in complexity. It has great aging potential. 2023–2042

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

This vineyard, which takes its name from a medieval leper hospital (“gaffet”), is located just outside the southern entrance to Saint-Émilion, between Ausone Hill and Pavie Hill. Here, time is measured not in years but in centuries: the remains of a Gallo-Roman villa believed to have belonged to the poet Ausonius have been found here. The Malet Roquefort family (now Count Léo de Malet Roquefort) has been established here since the 17th century. On a single, contiguous 22-hectare vineyard with clay-limestone soil, planted with Merlot (80%) and Cabernet Franc, a Premier Grand Cru Classé B is produced; since 2013, it has been crafted in fully renovated winemaking facilities.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

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

About the estate:

Alongside a major restructuring of the vineyard—led by the Derenoncourt team (which involved uprooting and replanting 5 hectares of Cabernet Franc on the magnificent limestone slopes south of the village)—Alexandre de Malet, now at the helm, has invested heavily in the technical overhaul of the winemaking facility. Following investments in plantings since 2000 and an upgrade of viticultural equipment, La Gaffelière’s production facilities now rank among the elite of the First Growths. Eventually, 80% of the estate’s flagship wine will come from the hillside vineyards (under Belair), leaving the lower slopes—generous but less refined—to the second wine, Clos La Gaffelière. In the 1970s and 1980s, La Gaffelière did not always produce a wine worthy of its standing. The worst of that period is now well behind us, and, as fate would have it, the de Malet Roquefort family has just purchased Château Puy-Blanquet, 20 hectares (19 of which are in production) in Saint-Étienne-de-Lisse, on a clay-limestone ridge overlooking the Dordogne, which they had sold to the Jacquet family in the 1960s for inheritance reasons. Embodying a classic yet expressive style, without excess, built on the finesse of the mid-palate, this premier cru with its exceptional topography continues to surprise—especially since its prices remain reasonable. Here, we find ourselves at the heart of what is most sensual and unique in Saint-Émilion!

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

Barrel sample. This is a refined, aromatic wine with great structure, yet it displays remarkable elegance and superb balance. The dense tannins blend with the freshness and lively blackcurrant fruit, maintaining a lively mouthfeel. The finish is bright and fruity.

Jancis Robinson

Vinous

About the wine:

A wine of great finesse, the 2014 La Gaffelière is magnificent. Supple on the palate with striking nuances, it offers a captivating interplay between the juicy fruit of the Merlot and the bold aromatics influenced by the Cabernet Franc. The silky tannins enhance the wine’s mouthfeel and exceptional precision. Consulting winemakers Stéphane Derenoncourt and Simon Blanchard have done a fabulous job with the 2014. In a word: superb! 2022–2044

James Suckling

About the wine:

I love the precision and vibrancy of this wine, with its berry, mushroom, and floral aromas. It has good body, yet it’s so tight and refined. Magnificent length and concentration. Drink now or cell it.