Château La Gaffelière 2021

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.

"The 2021 La Gaffelière is a wine of sublime elegance and understated finesse. Aromatic and pliant, the 2021 shows the more delicate side of the year, yet all the Gaffelière signatures are present. Lavender, mocha, spice, dried herbs and leather are some of the many notes that grace this exquisite Saint-Émilion. The balance here is mind-blowing. Give this time, as it won't be ready to drink anytime soon." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous, (02/28/2024), Ratings: 96

"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." - Jeb Dunnuck, (04/03/2024), Ratings: 94

"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 (04/17/2024), Ratings: 94 

"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." - William Kelley, The Wine Advocate, (02/22/2024), Ratings: 93

"Succulent and supple, sugary, ripe, jammy tannins hit the palate with such a buzz and energy. It's not so complex at this point but I like the upfront nature: it's bright and bold, with bitter, salty minerality also coming through at the end - liquorice sticks, cedar, graphite. Clean, crisp and very enjoyable. Tannins are so smooth just perfectly integrated. Will be great in time and I love the cool mint aspect on the finish." - Georgina Hindle, Decanter, (04/01/2022), Ratings: 93, Drink: 2025-2045