Clos La Gaffelière 2021

In 2021, the grand vin clearly stands apart from the rest of the range thanks to its refinement and invigorating chalky character. A touch of fresh austerity takes a back seat to the substance of this wine, which shows plenty of flair. A bright future lies ahead.

Delicate on the nose, with the subtle elegance of an Italian nobleman, it draws attention without saying a word. The bouquet slowly takes shape around spicy, flavorful, complex fruit, revealing notes of pomegranate, wild rose, and tea leaf. On the palate, there is a faint dustiness at first, but the wine’s rich power quickly sweeps that impression away. With a creamy texture that envelops the palate, it shows remarkable power—gentle yet persistent.

The 2021 La Gaffelière has quite a powerful bouquet with ample black cherry and raspberry fruit, violet and licorice—aromatics you would misconstrue as those from a warmer growing season. The palate is medium-bodied and fleshy with ripe tannins and good depth. It has more fruit intensity than its peers, yet it manages to retain mineralité and composure toward the finish. This is an excellent Saint-Émilion from the top drawer.

Presents a pretty solid core of black cherry and cassis notes (for the vintage), while apple wood, sweet tobacco and black tea flavors fill in. The finish reveals a sanguine, chalky underpinning, which stays fresh and helps minimize the vintage’s austere side. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2035. 7,500 cases made, 500 cases imported.

Fragrant and ripe fruit on the nose, perfumed black cherries and a dusting of milk chocolate. Lots of toasted aromatics too—wood, clove, cinnamon and spice. Weighty and well textured, this has a lovely presence on the palate, pure but concentrated yet cool at the same time. Stylish with energy and focus. Really carries across the palate, with plenty of movement and forward momentum. One of the more complete wines in terms of energy and harmony. The oak is still there, so this will age, but it’s already showing beautifully.

Plummy, polished, soft, and fresh, the floral characteristics on the nose make an impression before you experience the multiple layers of sweet, ripe, juicy, dark plums, espresso, and chocolate in the mid-palate and in the round, soft, silky, long finish. Drink from 2023-2050. 93-95

Deep, dark ruby core with a purple tinge to a narrow rim. Delicate nougat and black cherries, a touch of plum and orange zest, fine noble wood spices. Juicy, fresh, dark berries and a little cassis, integrated tannins, a chocolaty touch on the finish. Certainly has ageing potential.

A huge success in the vintage, the 2021 Château La Gaffelière checks in as an even split of Cabernet Franc and Merlot that was raised in 50% new oak. Gorgeous cassis and black raspberry-like fruit as well as flowers, cedary herbs, and graphite all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with medium-bodied richness, a silky, layered, elegant mouthfeel, gorgeous tannins, and outstanding length. It's clearly up with the top handful of wines in the vintage and will have 15-20 years of overall longevity.

Kunz barrel sample 2022: (58% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Franc, 13.7% vol. alcohol) Restrained, fine bouquet, strawberries, mocha, wood. Well-structured palate with delicate fruit, plenty of good tannins, muscular structure, closed aromatics, austere finish.

(58% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Franc, 13.7% alc. vol.) Restrained, fine bouquet, strawberry, mocha, wood. Well-structured palate with delicate fruit, plenty of good tannins, muscular structure, closed aromatics, austere finish. 17/20 2029 - 2045

Skilful use of sweet oak, edges of grilled vanilla bean, carefully balanced with raspberry puree, cranberry, leather, elderflower. This got one of my highest scores in a challenging vintage when tasted just after bottling, and it has maintained its impressive performance. This is also a vintage with a footnote in history for Gaffelière, the last one bottled as a Premier Grand Cru Classé. 50% new oak for ageing, Stéphane Derenoncourt consultant.

A blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the 2021 Clos La Gaffeliere has a medium to deep garnet-purple color. The nose is a little closed and broody, with scents of sauteed herbs, charcoal, and wet dirt opening out to a core of redcurrants and plums. The medium-bodied palate is a little watery and soft, with a vaguely savory finish.

The complexity displayed by La Gaffelière’s bouquet sets the tone from the outset. This diversity and depth are the result of a pursuit of perfection, seeking the complexity that the terroir can impart—provided it can be tamed! I believe that has been achieved, especially after tasting the wine. Indeed, the grandeur heralded by the bouquet is fully delivered on the palate. The wine has density, tight tannins, and an acid structure that perfectly carries the aromatic intensity through to the finish. It’s worth noting that a great wine is defined by its ability to perform in more challenging vintages… Mission accomplished! A wine you need in your cellar…

Deep, intense colour. Lovely fruity, even floral nose. A tasty palate with precise fruit, developing very pleasantly with medium body and length. Drink young. Blend: 80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Franc.

This is beautifully textured with great black fruits and rich tannins. The wine's polished perfumes give a refined, finely textured wine. Ready to age, drink from 2028.

The 2021 La Gaffelière is quite rich and generous by the standards of the vintage, wafting from the glass with aromas of cherries and raspberries mingled with licorice, pencil shavings and creamy new oak. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and seamless, it has good depth at the core, lively acids and a sapid finish.