Château La Gaffelière - Saint-Emilion 1er Grand Cru Classé 2020

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Ideally situated 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 the 22 hectares, under the guidance of Alexandre Malet-Roquefort (whose family has been in Saint-Émilion since the 15th century), the vineyard layout has been optimized. Merlot vines are being uprooted and replaced with Cabernet Franc, which transitions from the sandy soils to the hillside. Its proportion is increasing and now accounts for 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.

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 the hills of Ausone and Pavie. 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 clay-limestone vineyard planted with Merlot (80%) and Cabernet Franc, a Premier Grand Cru Classé B is produced, crafted since 2013 in fully renovated production facilities.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

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

About the wine:

The wine’s aristocratic elegance is underpinned by a pronounced structure, a taut texture, and perfect proportions. It is precise, intense, and lively, coming together in a finish that is more cheerful than the austerity of the opening.

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 hillsides south of the village), Alexandre de Malet, now at the helm, has invested heavily in the technical overhaul of the winery. Following investments in plantings since 2000 and an upgrade of cultivation equipment, La Gaffelière’s production facilities now rank among the elite of the First Growths. Eventually, the grand vin will be sourced 80% from the hillside vineyards (under Belair), leaving the lower slopes—generous but less distinguished—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 a fitting turn of events, the de Malet Roquefort family has just purchased Château Puy-Blanquet, 20 hectares (19 of which are in production) in Saint-Etienne-de-Lisse, on a clay-limestone hilltop overlooking the Dordogne, which they had sold to the Jacquet family in the 1960s for inheritance reasons. Championing a classic yet expressive style, without excess, built on the finesse of the finish, this premier cru with its exceptional topography continues to surprise, especially since its prices remain reasonable. Here we are at the heart of what is most sensual and unique in Saint-Émilion!

Jancis Robinson

Vinous

About the wine:

The 2020 Gaffelière is superb. Rich, dense, and explosive. Notes of black cherry, gravel, licorice, toasted herbs, and menthol waft from the glass. Deep, supple, and explosive, the 2020 is magnificent. At this stage, it is still youthful, but that won’t be a problem in a few years. This lively and majestic Saint-Émilion is simply exhilarating. 2028–2060

James Suckling

About the wine:

Deep, intense notes of plum and blackberry, enhanced by dark chocolate, toasted spices, walnut, crushed graphite, and wet stones. Full-bodied, it features ripe, velvety tannins that flow in a single, firm layer across the palate. Very structured. Delicious black and blue fruits coated in chocolate, with a spicy character and a very long finish. 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2028.

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

La Gaffelière stands out as one of the vintage’s finest achievements, revealing a beautiful burst of dark fruit on the nose, framed by heady floral notes. The creamy texture on the palate, supported by a solid limestone foundation and exceptionally refined tannins, confirms the growing precision of this Premier Grand Cru Classé. A heady finish with fruit and brandy notes.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

What energy and complexity in the 2020 Gaffelière! The wine stands out for its vigor, but also for its finesse and its ability to turn the vintage’s challenges into strengths. Juicy in character, it boasts a lively and incisive acidity, while its perfectly integrated tannins offer power. This Gaffelière strikes me as very accomplished, high-performing, and capable of aging gracefully for decades to come. The shift that began in 2017 was decisive; La Gaffelière has surpassed its former glory, cementing its place among the elite of Saint-Emilion. I’m just saying! A truly remarkable success whose evolution is worth following. 2026–2055