Château La Gaffelière 2019

Nestled in the heart of the rolling vineyards of Saint-Émilion, Château La Gaffelière embodies the elegance and tradition of Bordeaux wine. Its history dates back several centuries, bearing witness to the richness of the terroir in this region.

The first traces of vines at La Gaffelière date back to the Middle Ages, but it was in the 18th century that the property acquired its distinctive character. The estate was then owned by the Malet-Roquefort family, who gave it its current name. Under their direction, La Gaffelière gained a reputation for quality and excellence in wine production. Over the centuries, La Gaffelière changed hands several times, but its commitment to quality remained constant. However, it was in the early 20th century that the estate entered a new era of prosperity with the arrival of the Malet de Roquefort family, who revitalized the property and modernized winemaking techniques.

In the 1980s, Château La Gaffelière came under the direction of the de Schepper-Heylemans family, who continued the commitment of their predecessors to excellence and innovation. Under their leadership, the estate continued to produce renowned wines, blending tradition and modernity to create expressive and elegant wines that capture the very essence of Saint-Émilion. The vineyards of La Gaffelière extend over approximately 40 hectares, benefiting from an exceptional terroir composed of clay-limestone soils and gravel, ideal for growing the emblematic grape varieties of Bordeaux: Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

La Gaffelière wines are renowned for their elegance, complexity, and ability to age gracefully in the bottle. Their style is characterized by seductive aromas of ripe fruits, silky tannins, and a harmonious structure that reveals the finesse and depth of Saint-Émilion's terroir. Today, Château La Gaffelière remains a symbol of winemaking excellence in Saint-Émilion, with the de Schepper-Heylemans family at its helm, perpetuating with passion and dedication the heritage of this property.

"A frost was narrowly avoided in the middle of the spring. Flowering took place under good conditions in June. July was very hot, peaking at 42°C. A large storm with 40 mm of rain at the end of July avoided disaster: The plants were watered and temperatures fell. August was dry with little rain despite a storm on 27/08. Thanks to this sparse rain, the water balance was not at its lowest. The Merlots at the foot of the slopes started on 17/09, the Cabernets Francs close the harverst on 11/10." - Damien Bielle, Technical Director

"The 2019 La Gaffelière is just as impressive as it was en primeur. Bright and tightly wound, La Gaffelière sizzles with energy. Dark red fruit, mocha, blood orange, mint and dried flowers lend striking aromatic presence. There is some youthful austerity here, but nothing time in bottle won't take care of. The 2019 doesn't quite match the stratospheric grandeur of the magical 2018, but it comes close." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous, (02/28/2022), Ratings: 96

"Sporting a deep garnet-purple color, the 2019 La Gaffeliere reveals a tantalizingly bright, fresh nose of ripe black plums, crushed blackberries and warm black cherries with touches of lavender, star anise, Sichuan pepper and fragrant earth. The vibrant black fruits completely fill the medium to full-bodied palate with loads of crunchy, energetic flavors, framed by wonderfully plush tannins and a lively line of freshness, finishing with a mineral twist. Irresistibly scrumptious!" - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, The Wine Advocate, (07/15/2020), Ratings: 95-97