Château La Gaffelière 1996

This is a quintessentially elegant wine, with charm, sweet fruit, and a velvety texture. Tannin in the finish suggests it will last longer than expected. The color is a deep ruby, and the nose offers up sweet black cherries intermixed with a peppery, mineral character, subtle new oak, and well-integrated acidity and tannin. The finish is long and pure. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2012.

Fresh and vivacious, with chocolate, cherry and raspberry aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a medium, fruity finish. Needs a bit more fruit concentration to be outstanding, but well done. Best after 1999. 6,000 cases made.

Good, fleshy maturity. Losing primary fruit, and finishes light. How frustrating! Just a few years too old perhaps? Not dead, just lacking a bit of ripeness. (RH)

97: Dark purple-violet. Very concentrated Merlot spice bouquet paired with an earthy, truffle-like depth. Juicy palate, lots of substance, rough texture, strongly masculine astringency, hard, metallic tannins. A long-distance runner that will never truly develop charm. Potential score: 16/20 2005 – 2025

Full, closed bouquet with chocolate notes. Austere palate with lots of tannin. Short finish with metallic notes. 16/20

Deep red colour. Medium intensity. Lively. Nose of medium intensity. Fruity. Refined. A very pleasant touch of delicate oak. Almost floral. With aeration: smoky, complex, with notes of tobacco. A gentle attack, developing into a very fruity structure with a fine, caressing mouthfeel. The wine, initially medium-bodied, gains depth from mid-palate and finishes long, liquorice-tinged and aromatic, with elegance.