La Gaffeliere 2018

St Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classé B

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Tasting Notes
The 2018 La Gaffelière remains quite backward on the nose; the aromatics are biding their time but will be very attractive, offering pure black cherry, bilberry and light marine aromas that are very well defined. The palate is underpinned by fine, almost filigreed tannins and a superb bead of acidity. This La Gaffelière is harmonious on the finish with seamlessly integrated oak. It should mature beautifully over the next 20–30 years and evolve into one of the standout Saint-Émilions of this vintage. Score: 95 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2024 - 2045 22 August 2021
The 2018 La Gaffelière is a little closed on the nose at present, demands coaxing before revealing scents of blackberry, bilberry and white pepper aromas. There is something… enigmatic about the bouquet. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins. The oak is beautifully integrated and there is real tension and mineralité on the finish. I must confess that I was not expecting this to be as good as it shows. It is an outstanding La Gaffelière that will age with panache. In over 20 years of tasting this property, this is easily the finest that I have encountered. Score: 94 - 96 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2024-2045 01 November 2019
Based on 63% Merlot and 37% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Château La Gaffelière is another pretty, elegant Saint-Emilion with a classic, mineral-laced style as well as a terrific mix of finesse and richness. Black raspberries, cassis, graphite, white flowers, and chalky minerality give way to a medium to full-bodied, seamless 2018 that offers plenty of concentration, a lively, focused texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's going to evolve for two decades or more. Score: 93 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Maturity: 2021 - 2041 19 July 2021
The grand vin of the estate, the 2018 Château La Gaffelière is a brilliant wine offering pure crème de cassis and black raspberry fruits as well as fabulous minerality. Medium to full-bodied, seamless, and elegant on the palate, it’s not a blockbuster but shines for its purity, balance, and just gorgeous texture. It will drink well with 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades. Score: 92 - 95 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com 01 May 2019
Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 La Gaffeliere is a little closed to begin, slowly unfurling to offer peeks at notions of stewed red and black plums, mulberries and Morello cherries, plus hints of damp earth, tar and bouquet garni. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is tightly wound, delivering crunchy red and black fruits with an approachable texture of fine-grained tannins and loads of freshness, finishing long with a lifted perfume. This is a refreshing, beautifully perfumed and skillfully crafted expression of the vintage. Give it 4-5 years in bottle and then enjoy it over the next 20 years+. Score: 97 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2025 - 2045 15 July 2021
Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 La Gaffeliere reveals classically sophisticated scents of ripe black plums, warm blackberries and cigar box with touches of star anise, dried Provence herbs, chocolate mint and truffles. Full-bodied, it has a solid backbone of ripe, rounded tannins and lovely freshness lifting the densely layered fruit to a long finish. Score: 94 - 96 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 23 April 2019
The combination of Cabernet Franc and limestone give this wine both a beautifully floral-laced nose, and a sense of energy and lift as it travels through the palate. Extremely light-footed for a wine at 14.5 ABV%, barely discernible and the black fruits are followed by juice at every step of the way. Good stuff. Score: 96 Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2026-2045 10 November 2020
You can feel the excitement building around this estate following extensive replanting and refocussing. The frost of 2017 changed the blend a little, and they decided to stick with it as they liked the results so much - meaning they are using less of the vineyard for the grand vin. Whatever they are doing, it works. This has rich creaminess through the mid-palate that balances the austerity and salinity of the limestone terroir, and the brambled autumnal fruit is ripe and very much to the fore. It's a delicious, complex yet pared-back wine with layers of tannin that cradle rather than crush. A brilliant Gaffeliere. I tasted the individual components at the estate a few weeks ago, and it's great to see how they've assembled the final blend. Harvested between 10 September and 9 October. 60% new oak. 3.57pH. IPT 76. Drinking Window 2027 - 2040 Score: 96 Jane Anson, Decanter.com 04 April 2019
The blue-fruit and sea-salt character is fascinating in this. Full-bodied yet tight and very focused. It really lasts for minutes on the palate. Forceful but full of finesse as well. Score: 95 - 96 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 11 April 2019
The 2018 La Gaffelière is once again one of the finest and most pedigreed wines in Saint-Émilion and all of Bordeaux for that matter. The high percentage of Cabernet Franc (37%) gives the wine striking aromatic nuance and complexity, as well as fabulous drive. Rose petal, sage, mint and blood orange all soar out of the glass in a stunning Saint-Émilion loaded with class and personality. Consulting winemaker Stéphane Derenoncourt has turned out another gem at this revitalized property. The blend is 63% Merlot and 37% Cabernet Franc. Score: 94 - 97 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com 01 April 2019
Features a beautiful beam of cassis, bitter cherry and raspberry fruit streaming through, laced with chalky minerality and backed by floral and spice accents, all allied to a polished, luxurious feel that doesn't sacrifice definition or drive. Score: 94 - 97 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 28 March 2019

Tasting Notes

The 2018 La Gaffelière remains quite backward on the nose; the aromatics are biding their time but will be very attractive, offering pure black cherry, bilberry and light marine aromas that are very well defined. The palate is underpinned by fine, almost filigreed tannins and a superb bead of acidity. This La Gaffelière is harmonious on the finish with seamlessly integrated oak. It should mature beautifully over the next 20–30 years and evolve into one of the standout Saint-Émilions of this vintage.

Score: 95

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2024 - 2045 22 August 2021

The 2018 La Gaffelière is a little closed on the nose at present, demands coaxing before revealing scents of blackberry, bilberry and white pepper aromas. There is something… enigmatic about the bouquet. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins. The oak is beautifully integrated and there is real tension and mineralité on the finish. I must confess that I was not expecting this to be as good as it shows. It is an outstanding La Gaffelière that will age with panache. In over 20 years of tasting this property, this is easily the finest that I have encountered.

Score: 94 - 96

Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2024-2045 01 November 2019

Based on 63% Merlot and 37% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Château La Gaffelière is another pretty, elegant Saint-Emilion with a classic, mineral-laced style as well as a terrific mix of finesse and richness. Black raspberries, cassis, graphite, white flowers, and chalky minerality give way to a medium to full-bodied, seamless 2018 that offers plenty of concentration, a lively, focused texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish. It's going to evolve for two decades or more.

Score: 93

Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Maturity: 2021 - 2041 19 July 2021

The grand vin of the estate, the 2018 Château La Gaffelière is a brilliant wine offering pure crème de cassis and black raspberry fruits as well as fabulous minerality. Medium to full-bodied, seamless, and elegant on the palate, it’s not a blockbuster but shines for its purity, balance, and just gorgeous texture. It will drink well with 4-5 years of bottle age and keep for two decades.

Score: 92 - 95

Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com 01 May 2019

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 La Gaffeliere is a little closed to begin, slowly unfurling to offer peeks at notions of stewed red and black plums, mulberries and Morello cherries, plus hints of damp earth, tar and bouquet garni. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is tightly wound, delivering crunchy red and black fruits with an approachable texture of fine-grained tannins and loads of freshness, finishing long with a lifted perfume. This is a refreshing, beautifully perfumed and skillfully crafted expression of the vintage. Give it 4-5 years in bottle and then enjoy it over the next 20 years+.

Score: 97

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2025 - 2045 15 July 2021

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 La Gaffeliere reveals classically sophisticated scents of ripe black plums, warm blackberries and cigar box with touches of star anise, dried Provence herbs, chocolate mint and truffles. Full-bodied, it has a solid backbone of ripe, rounded tannins and lovely freshness lifting the densely layered fruit to a long finish.

Score: 94 - 96

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 23 April 2019

The combination of Cabernet Franc and limestone give this wine both a beautifully floral-laced nose, and a sense of energy and lift as it travels through the palate. Extremely light-footed for a wine at 14.5 ABV%, barely discernible and the black fruits are followed by juice at every step of the way. Good stuff.

Score: 96

Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2026-2045 10 November 2020

You can feel the excitement building around this estate following extensive replanting and refocussing. The frost of 2017 changed the blend a little, and they decided to stick with it as they liked the results so much - meaning they are using less of the vineyard for the grand vin. Whatever they are doing, it works. This has rich creaminess through the mid-palate that balances the austerity and salinity of the limestone terroir, and the brambled autumnal fruit is ripe and very much to the fore. It's a delicious, complex yet pared-back wine with layers of tannin that cradle rather than crush. A brilliant Gaffeliere. I tasted the individual components at the estate a few weeks ago, and it's great to see how they've assembled the final blend. Harvested between 10 September and 9 October. 60% new oak. 3.57pH. IPT 76. Drinking Window 2027 - 2040

Score: 96

Jane Anson, Decanter.com 04 April 2019

The blue-fruit and sea-salt character is fascinating in this. Full-bodied yet tight and very focused. It really lasts for minutes on the palate. Forceful but full of finesse as well.

Score: 95 - 96

James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 11 April 2019

The 2018 La Gaffelière is once again one of the finest and most pedigreed wines in Saint-Émilion and all of Bordeaux for that matter. The high percentage of Cabernet Franc (37%) gives the wine striking aromatic nuance and complexity, as well as fabulous drive. Rose petal, sage, mint and blood orange all soar out of the glass in a stunning Saint-Émilion loaded with class and personality. Consulting winemaker Stéphane Derenoncourt has turned out another gem at this revitalized property. The blend is 63% Merlot and 37% Cabernet Franc.

Score: 94 - 97

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com 01 April 2019

Features a beautiful beam of cassis, bitter cherry and raspberry fruit streaming through, laced with chalky minerality and backed by floral and spice accents, all allied to a polished, luxurious feel that doesn't sacrifice definition or drive.

Score: 94 - 97

James Molesworth, Wine Spectator 28 March 2019

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