Château La Gaffelière 2023

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.

"One of the stars of the vintage, the 2023 Château La Gaffelière checks in as 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc resting in 50% new barrels. Cassis, smoked black fruits, graphite, and crushed stone all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, layered, concentrated mouthfeel, plenty of tannins, and a great finish. It has a lot of oak but more than enough fruit and texture. It's serious stuff." - Jeb Dunnuck, Bordeaux 2023 En Primeur, (05/08/2024), Ratings: 94-97

"The 2023 La Gaffelière is very pure and floral on the nose, with black cherries intermingling with violet and iris flower scents. The new oak is neatly integrated here. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and layers of lightly spiced black fruit. Cedar and graphite furnish the poised but persistent finish. This is another in a succession of impressive wines from this estate that just oozes sensuality. Superb." - Neal Martin, Vinous, (04/29/2024), Ratings: 94-96 

"A deep nose, floral, so perfumed, lots of ripe black bramble fruit. Concentrated and so full, there’s density on the palate, there’s so much ripe red fruit that fills the mouth with a soft grip to the tannins that support the fruit but doesn't overwhelm. This feels instantly classy, layered and complex with a gentle confidence. It’s round and slightly fleshy, although feels sculpted and muscular with volume, a lovely juiciness and a touch of dark chocolate, cedar and liquorice on the finish. Sophisticated." - Georgina Hindle, Decanter, (04/24/2024), Ratings: 95 

"Love the depth and the vibrant fruit character here, and the vivid reflections to the colour. Chalky, fresh, extremely vibrant, real mineral pumice stone textire, and a clear reminder of its limestone soils. Aged in barrels and large oak casks. Tasted twice. Now withdrawn from the St Emilion classification. Alexandre de Malet-Roquefort owner." - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux, (05/06/2024), Ratings: 94