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La Gaffelière 2021

Tasting Notes

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. Drink 2025-2040.

93
William Kelley, RobertParker.com, February 2024

The 2021 La Gaffelière was picked September 22 to October 15, and matured in 60% French new oak. There is a healthy 42% Cabernet Franc here. The nose is quite open with black cherry, blueberry and touches of violet and peony; the oak is nicely integrated. In the mouth, this is medium-bodied with fine delineation, good focus and real midpalate weight. Conveying good intensity and vibrancy, this continues a strong run for this Saint-Émilion estate.

94/96
Neal Martin, vinous.com, May 2022

Deep ruby colour. Deep, rich and smoky black fruit on the nose with a hint of liquorice and allspice. On the palate, the fruit has an almost liqueur-like quality, sweet, smoky and ripe. There is an earthy quality to the spicing of oak on this wine, adding depth and character. The tannins are rich and chalky against the fruit, giving a long and pithy finish.

91/93
Thomas Parker MW, Farr Vintners, May 2022

A very precise and curated wine with ultra-fine tannins that run the length of the wine. Medium body. Dark berry and dark chocolate flavors and a creamy finish. Classy.

94/95
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, May 2022

The 2021 La Gaffeliere is a blend of 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Merlot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a little swirling and coaxing to unleash vivacious scents of wild blueberries, black raspberries, and black cherries, followed by hints of licorice, crushed rocks, wood smoke, and tapenade, with a waft of red roses. Medium-bodied, the palate is beautifully knit with lots of black fruit, floral and savory layers, framed by firm, ripe, grainy tannins and fantastic tension, finishing long and mineral-laced.
2027-2050

94/96
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent, May 2022

Cask sample. Bright crimson hue. Elegant demeanour with perfumed, red-berry fruit aromas and layered fruit on the palate. Tannins present but finely honed. Long, persistent finish. Matière and potential. (JL)
Drink 2028 – 2042

16.5+
James Lawther MW, JancisRobinson.com, May 2022
Read more tasting notes...

A notable success in this vintage, the 2021 La Gaffelière offers up aromas of sweet cherries and berries mingled with notions of licorice, loamy soil and spices. Medium to full-bodied, seamless and enveloping, it's supple and charming, with a fleshy core of fruit, lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins, concluding with impressive persistence. Tasted four times, twice at the château.

92/94
William Kelley, Wine Advocate (260), April 2022
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.