Château La Gaffelière - Saint-Emilion 1er Grand Cru Classé 2019

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

A chalky vitality at the core of the palate that builds the wine and unfolds a vibrant fruitiness, beautifully integrated into the silky texture. A long-lasting aroma that lends great class to the finish. Truly moving! And within five years, its structure could propel it into the top five of the first growths…

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 2019 vintage’s perfect sweetness, with its expansive yet balanced body, captivates us not only with its well-preserved fruit but also with its lovely length. Fresh and well-structured, the wine remains a true classic, embodying the archetype of an aristocratic and distinguished Saint-Émilion, without any ostentatious flair.

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

James Suckling

About the wine:

A vibrant, aromatic red with notes of blackberry, redcurrant, walnut, and mint chocolate. Medium-bodied with fine tannins. Lovely walnut notes on the polished finish. Fantastic length. Good acidity and concentration. Best enjoyed in 2025.

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

A world apart from its younger sibling, Clos La Gaffelière, this is a wine not to be underestimated. Round, opulent, and dense on the nose, the palate lifts you up, thanks to a silky texture—almost like cashmere—that is intense and mouth-watering. 2029–2049

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

A subtle, refined, and enticing nose, featuring juicy plum with a delicate chalky note. The fruit is concentrated and full-bodied, with precision, against a warm and enveloping profile. The tannins are very silky, and the minerality gives the wine a beautiful, elegant structure. The revival of Château La Gaffelière continues.

Jean-Marc Quarin

About the wine:

The remarkable rise in quality that began in 2017 and was confirmed in 2018 is evident in this outstanding 2019 vintage. The intense, fruity nose is still slightly closed. Bottled in June 2021, it requires ample aeration. On the palate, the wine offers the delicacy of the vintage and great complexity in texture and aromatic brilliance. It has a long, noble, and very persistent finish. It is superb.

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is beautifully developed, full of subtlety, and offers a certain depth (in finesse), lovely fruit, complexity, and a multi-layered character. It features notes of juicy Boysenberry, juicy wild strawberry, and, more subtly, crushed black berries, combined with hints of blueberry, zan, wild berries / ripe berries, a subtle hint of graphite, limestone, and chocolate, along with delicate hints of cinnamon, toast, and an imperceptible touch of saffron (on its floral side) and vanilla. The palate is fruity, perfectly balanced, and offers a delightful indulgence, with lovely, juicy, vibrant, and tart fruit, roundness, elegance, power, a certain integrity, and a masterfully controlled richness. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy, tart raspberry, fresh, tart strawberry, and, more subtly, juicy, pulpy blackberry, combined with hints of lily, blueberry, and tart plum, as well as hints of chocolate, toasted almond, cinnamon, and a subtle touch of caramelization on the finish and in the aftertaste. A delicate texture on the finish and aftertaste. A wine that is currently slightly reserved. (2026+)