Château La Gaffelière - Saint-Emilion 1er Grand Cru Classé 2021

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Ideally located on the coastline that extends from Ausone to Belair-Monange, La Gaffelière has undergone a gentle revolution over the last decade: under the leadership of Alexandre Malet-Roquefort (whose family has been in Saint-Émilion since the 15th century), half of the 22 hectares have been replanted with a better mix of grape varieties. Merlot vines have been pulled up and replaced with Cabernet Franc, which has been moved from the sandy soils to the hillside. Its percentage has increased to 40% of the final blend. The result is convincing, with more complex, floral wines that respect the fruit and freshness.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

This vineyard, which takes its name from a medieval hospital for lepers ("gaffet"), is located at 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 Ausone have been found here. The Malet Roquefort family (now Count Léo de Malet Roquefort) has been established here since the 17th century. On a 22-hectare vineyard of clay-limestone soil planted with Merlot (80%) and Cabernet Franc, a Premier Grand Cru Classé B wine is produced, which has been made since 2013 in completely renovated technical buildings.

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 under the leadership of the Derenoncourt team (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 planting since 2000 and the renewal of cultivation equipment, La Gaffelière's production facilities are now on a par with those of the elite premier grands crus classés. Ultimately, 80% of the grand vin will come from the hillside vines (under Belair), leaving the lower slopes, which are generous but less distinguished, for the second wine, Clos La Gaffelière. In the 1970s and 1980s, La Gaffelière did not always produce a wine worthy of its rank. The worst is now well behind us and, in a fitting turn of events, the Malet Roquefort family has just bought Château Puy-Blanquet, 20 hectares (including 19 in production) in Saint-Etienne-de-Lisse, on a clay-limestone hilltop overlooking the Dordogne, which it had sold in the 1960s to the Jacquet family for inheritance reasons. Defending a classic but expressive style, without excess, built on the finesse of the second part of the palate, this premier cru with its exceptional topography continues to surprise, especially as its prices remain reasonable. Here we are at the heart of what is most sensual and unique in Saint-Émilion!

Wine Enthusiast

About wine:

This wine has a magnificent texture, intense black fruit aromas, and rich tannins. Its refined aromas give it exceptional finesse and texture. Ready for aging, it will be ready to drink from 2028 onwards.

Jancis Robinson

Vinous

About wine:

La Gaffelière's 2021 Saint-Émilion is a wine of sublime elegance and discreet finesse. Aromatic and supple, it reveals the delicacy of this vintage while retaining the house's signature style. Lavender, mocha, spices, dried herbs, and leather are among the many notes that enhance this exquisite Saint-Émilion. Its balance is simply breathtaking. It should be kept, as it will not be ready to drink anytime soon. Drink between 2031 and 2061.

James Suckling

Terre de Vins

About wine:

Deep, sanguine, smoky, vibrant nose, revealing the signature Cabernet Franc and the in-depth work that has been done here in recent years. The structure is slender, sappy, precise, devilishly licorice-like, on a finely roughened, tracing, mineral rock coulis. There are no gaps in the structure, which unfolds beautifully: it is a great terroir that makes all the difference. Château La Gaffelière 2021 further confirms its progress in terms of precision, energy, and juiciness.

Yves Beck

About wine:

The complexity displayed by La Gaffelière's bouquet sets the tone from the outset. This diversity and depth are the result of a quest for perfection, seeking out the complexity that the terroir is capable of imparting, but which still needs to be tamed! I think this has been achieved, especially after tasting the wine. Indeed, the grandeur promised by the bouquet is fully confirmed on the palate. The wine has density, tight tannins, and an acidic structure that perfectly conveys the aromatic intensity right through to the finish. It should be noted that a great wine is characterized by its ability to perform well in more complicated vintages... Mission accomplished! A wine that must be in your cellar... 2026-2046