Clos La Gaffelière 2022

Rich on the nose and palate, floral notes over dark fruit, plenty of spice from Cabernet Franc; on the palate, dense and concentrated, initially opulent, then increasingly slender, linear, and gripping, with energy, firm tannins, and a spicy, fresh finish. Exceptionally well made, can age.

A deep, seductive nose – coffee, chocolate, mocha, tobacco, and spiced sun-kissed fruit. Intense yet precise aromatics – the signature perfume of Gaffelière. Bright and bold, with juicy fruit and crushed-velvet tannins. Clean, crisp and so moreish, with a salty tang, strawberry juiciness, and loads of freshness. Harmonised and balanced, with long, layered complexity. Clear structure and power here. Gorgeous.

This shows crushed stones, chalk, salt and blueberries. Violets. Medium- to full-bodied, it’s firm and crunchy with lovely and precise tannins that are long and focused. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc. 10% whole-bunch fermentation. Drink after 2027 and beyond.

Opulent, silky, and elegant, the wine is packed with layers of sweet, ripe black cherries, licorice, cocoa, espresso, and salty dark chocolate. Concentrated, intense, and full-bodied, there is width and length to the waves of fruit in the mid-palate that carry through to the finish. Drink from 2029-2060.

Deep dark ruby garnet colour with an opaque core and purple reflections, with a delicate brightening at the rim. Subtle hints of nougat and coconut, dark berries, fresh plums, fine noble oak, a very inviting bouquet. Juicy, elegant, with fine fruit sweetness, pleasant acidity, silky and persistent, a finesse-rich food wine with some ageing potential.

The 2022 Château La Gaffelière comes from a blend of 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc sourced from 22 hectares of classic Saint-Emilion limestone soils. Élevage lasted 19 months in just 50% new French oak. Its deep ruby/plum hue is followed by a stunning nose of ripe red and black fruits, spring flowers, spicy wood, and crushed-stone minerality. With flawless balance, pure, full-bodied, seamless texture, ripe tannins, and a great finish, it’s the finest vintage of this cuvée I’ve tasted and will most likely warrant a perfect rating in a decade. This is pure Saint-Emilion brilliance! Give bottles 4–6 years, count yourself lucky, and enjoy over the following 20–30 years.

Intense and concentrated, led by black cherry, fig and raspberry. It has a creamy texture and plenty of juice, with a great balance of exuberance and freshness, followed by an oyster-shell salinity on the finish and a ton of joy. A little less estate-signature than in some vintages, as is often the case in 2022, but the great limestone terroir really shines through, and this is exceptional. One to watch out for, and it will reward cellaring. 50% new oak for ageing, consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt.

Rich and majestic, unfolding purple fruits like a royal mantle. Notes of juniper berry and pink pepper intertwine, followed by a subtle hint of chocolate. The palate is creamy, self-assured, and typically Bordeaux. Lovely voluptuousness driven by enticing red fruit, with oak that is not yet fully integrated.

Plenty of energy in this wine, still marked by its élevage. It needs air to finally reveal its freshness, with nuances of garrigue, blackcurrant and raspberry, complemented by a touch of licorice and peppermint. Dense and luscious on the attack, the wine stands out for its silky character and the serenity of its power. It owes the latter to exceptional tannins whose sole ambition is to bring vigor while caressing the palate, with the acidic structure as a sidekick to add a bit of pep in this charming context.

Dark, intense and vibrant color. Very aromatic nose, delicate, fruity and nuanced. Subtle on the attack, with great aromatic power, the wine unfolds with a refined texture into a long, sapid and complex finish. Meticulously crafted. It’s very good.

This offers a pretty captivating display of boysenberry and blackberry purée flavors liberally infused with violet, iris and ink details, while a racy graphite spine provides remarkable length through the well-cut finish. There's some high gloss toast, but the fruit is in clear command. A real head-turner. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2026 through 2042. 8,000 cases made, 300 cases imported.

An impressive wine, full of dark fruits and with rich tannins. This wine is beautifully proportioned. Its concentration, black coffee aroma and ripe tannins all go well together. Drink this fine wine from 2029.