Château La Gaffelière -Subskription-

96-98/100 The Wine Independent The 2023 La Gaffeliere is deep garnet-purple in color. It slowly emerges from the glass with fragrant scents of boysenberries, fresh juicy plums, and black raspberries opening out to hints of lilacs, Sichuan pepper, fragrant soil, and cardamom. The medium to full-bodied palate is exquisitely knit with filigree layers of black and red berries and floral accents, supported by plush tannins and wonderful tension, finishing long and perfumed. Wow! The blend is 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc, with pH 3.50. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown 94-97/100 Jeb Dunnuck One of the stars of the vintage, the 2023 Château La Gaffelière checks in as 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc resting in 50% new barrels. Cassis, smoked black fruits, graphite, and crushed stone all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, layered, concentrated mouthfeel, plenty of tannins, and a great finish. It has a lot of oak but more than enough fruit and texture. It's serious stuff. - Jeb Dunnuck 94-96/100 Vinous The 2023 La Gaffelière is very pure and floral on the nose, with black cherries intermingling with violet and iris flower scents. The new oak is neatly integrated here. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and layers of lightly spiced black fruit. Cedar and graphite furnish the poised but persistent finish. This is another in a succession of impressive wines from this estate that just oozes sensuality. Superb. - Neal Martin 93-96/100 Vinous The 2023 La Gaffelière is a dense, powerful wine. As has been the case since 2018, La Gaffelière has a strong Franc component—40% in 2023. Usually, the aromatics are quite lifted, but this wine is rather dense. Nothing in particular stands out, as all the elements are impeccably balanced. This will need time to be at its best, but it shows promise. The introduction of 500-liter barrels and a reduction of new oak closes the wine a bit, but there's a ton of raw energy here and a good bit of tannin, too. - Antonio Galloni 92-95/100 The Drink Business La Gaffelière (Saint Émilion; 58% Merlot; 42% Cabernet Franc, a little more than in 2022; a final yield of 45 hl/ha; pH 3.5; 14.3% alcohol; tasted at the UGCB press tasting at the Cité du Vin and again with Thomas Soubes at La Gaffelière). Crushed raspberries and black raspberries, blackcurrant and black berry, a little blueberry too from the Cabernet Franc. Very fine, very intense and impressively (if not hardly unexpectedly) pure, precise, focused and linear. Succulent. What is rendered vertically on the nose is conveyed horizontally on the palate with laser- or rapier-like focus. So clear, so pure, so balanced and so elegant. The proverbial iron fist in a velvet glove – soft power. Not the fruit density of 2020 or 2022, though this is deceptive, but lots of terroir character and an excellent sense of harmony. Very spherical on the finish. Polished and subtle. Fluid and harmonious. - Colin Hay 95/100 Decanter.com A deep nose, floral, so perfumed, lots of ripe black bramble fruit. Concentrated and so full, there’s density on the palate, there’s so much ripe red fruit that fills the mouth with a soft grip to the tannins that support the fruit but doesn't overwhelm. This feels instantly classy, layered and complex with a gentle confidence. It’s round and slightly fleshy, although feels sculpted and muscular with volume, a lovely juiciness and a touch of dark chocolate, cedar and liquorice on the finish. Sophisticated. - Georgina Hindle 94-95/100 Jamessuckling.com The center-palate reflects excellent terroir, with blackberry, black-olive and walnut aromas and flavors. Tight center-palate with firm but creamy tannins and a flavorful, classy finish. - James Suckling 94/100 Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux Love the depth and the vibrant fruit character here, and the vivid reflections to the colour. Chalky, fresh, extremely vibrant, real mineral pumice stone textire, and a clear reminder of its limestone soils. Aged in barrels and large oak casks. Tasted twice. Now withdrawn from the St Emilion classification. Alexandre de Malet-Roquefort owner. - Jane Anson 96/100 My Bettane + Desseauve Raffiné et équilibré, précis dans sa définition aromatique, avec de délicieuses notes fraîches et une belle assise tannique qui gagnera en subtilité. - Bettane & Desseauve 96-98/100 Yvesbeck.wine Ich werde nie den Moment vergessen, als ich nach der Verkostung von La Gaffelière 2021 Alexandre de Malet anrief, um ihm mitzuteilen, dass es ihm und seinen Teams gelungen war, einen der besten Gaffelière der letzten zehn Jahre, wenn nicht sogar den besten, zu produzieren - und das im Jahr 2021!!!! Ich werde ihn natürlich nicht jedes Mal anrufen, aber wenn man 2021, 2022 und 2023 nimmt, kann man ohne zu zögern von einem starken Trio mit einem außergewöhnlichen Niveau sprechen. Der 2023 zeichnet sich durch seine Frische und Präzision aus. Er schafft die Verbindung zwischen mineralischen, pflanzlichen, fruchtigen und würzigen Nuancen mit einer auffallenden Komplizenschaft unter den einzelnen Komponenten. Der lebhafte und seidige Kontext am Gaumen unterstreicht ebenfalls die Harmonie. Die Tannine sind fein, exakt, gelassen und stehen im Einklang mit dem prägnanten Charakter der Säurestruktur! Ach.. dieser Kalk... Gaffelière ist ihm zu großem Dank verpflichtet. Ein strahlender und animierender Wein. - Yves Beck 94/100 Falstaff Dark ruby, deep core, purple reflections. Fine black berryish confit, nuances of ripe cherries, gentle hints of candied violets, inviting, multi-faceted bouquet. Juicy, fresh red fruit, fine, integrated tannins, lively, mineral, a stimulating food wine, certain ageing potential. - Peter Moser