Appellations

Canon La Gaffeliere 2018

St Emilion, Grand Cru Classé

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Tasting Notes

The 2018 Canon La Gaffelière is bright, punchy and full of character, just as it was from barrel. Sage, blood orange, mocha and spice add pretty aromatic top notes to a core of inky red/purplish berry fruit. All the elements are so well balanced in this super-expressive Saint-Émilion. Bright floral and savory Franc notes punctuate the salivating finish, mineral-drenched finish. The 2018 needs a lot of air to open, but when it does, it is dynamite.

Score: 97 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2026 - 2043 Date: 26 August 2021

The 2018 Canon La Gaffelière is extraordinary. Fresh, vibrant and bursting at the seams with energy, the 2018 takes full advantage of all the work Stephan von Neipperg and his team have implemented at their properties. Expressive floral and savory notes add myriad shades of nuance to a dark, sumptuous Saint-Émilion that melds together aromatic intensity and fruit richness. Even with all of its intensity, the 2018 retains an element of translucence that is beguiling. The blend is 50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, which is to say a bit more Cabernet than in the past. Tasted two times.

Score: 95 - 98 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Date: 01 April 2019

The 2018 Canon-la-Gaffelière has an irresistible bouquet of blackberry, raspberry and touches of lavender that blossoms as soon as it opens, though it reaches its zenith only after 4–5 hours. The palate is medium-bodied with red and black fruit, a little grainier in texture than it showed from barrel, yet still spicy toward the finish. Black pepper, menthol and sage notes linger in the mouth. I think this might close up for a while, so cellar for 4–6 years.

Score: 93 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2025 - 2043 Date: 18 August 2021

The 2018 Canon-la-Gaffelière has a really lovely elegant bouquet with perfumed red berry fruit laced with rose petals and lavender. Wonderful definition here and much greater focus than the Clos de l’Oratoire. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a mixture of red and black fruit with sea salt and truffle notes that lead to a vibrant, spicy finish that lingers. After tasting the 2017 in bottle, I uphold was discombobulated by frost, this is Canon-la-Gaffelière back to its best.

Score: 92 - 94 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2023-2043 Date: 01 November 2019

Another beautiful vintage for this cuvée, the 2018 Château Canon La Gaffelière is based on 50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon, brought up in 50% new French oak, with the balance all in used barrels. It's never the biggest or richest wine in the vintage yet always has a classic Saint-Emilion elegance as well as brilliant minerality. The 2018 reveals a dense purple hue to go with an already complex bouquet of kirsch, blackberries, new saddle leather, bouquet garni, tobacco, and flowery incense. With medium to full-bodied richness, a seamless, elegant texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish, it builds nicely with time in the glass and is a complex, flawlessly balanced Saint-Emilion that offers both hedonistic and intellectual pleasure. It's going to keep for 20-30 years, and I'd recommend a healthy decant or a good 4-6 years of bottle age.

Score: 95 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Maturity: 2026 - 2051 Date: 18 July 2021

One of the most elegant and classy wines in the vintage is the 2018 Canon-La-Gaffelière, which is based on 50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in equal parts new and used barrels. This deep ruby/purple-colored effort offers a complex bouquet of kirsch, blueberries, licorice, orange blossom, and spring flowers. It’s medium to full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and focused on the palate, with building tannins that stay polished and sweet, and give plenty of length and cut on the finish. This beautiful Saint-Émilion offers both hedonistic and intellectual pleasure and will drink nicely for 25+ years.

Score: 94 - 97 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Date: 01 May 2019

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Canon la Gaffeliere out of the gate delivers a seductive nose of plum preserves, kirsch and Black Forest cake with nuances of lilacs, underbrush, Indian spices and dusty soil. The medium to full-bodied palate is filled with black fruit preserves and loads of spicy accents, supported by chewy tannins and well-balanced freshness, finishing long and savory.

Score: 95 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2024 - 2044 Date: 11 July 2021

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Canon la Gaffeliere has a fantastically exuberant nose of preserved plums, blueberry compote and black cherry pie with hints of menthol, mocha, Sichuan pepper and garrigue plus wafts of lavender and tilled soil. Full-bodied, concentrated and wonderfully decadent, it has a firm yet plush texture and just enough freshness in the background, finishing long with a menthol lift.

Score: 94 - 96 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Date: 23 April 2019

A lovely, fruity and juicy red with mineral and dried-tea character. Full and tightly structured with a long and flavorful finish. Tight at the moment, but shows momentum and depth.

Score: 94 - 95 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 11 April 2019

A bright, mineral-driven style in the making, with the chalky aspect leading the way, quickly followed by a racy stream of red currant, raspberry and cherry coulis flavors. Has the grip of the vintage, but this is piercingly focused in feel.

Score: 95 - 98 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Date: 28 March 2019