Château la Gaffelière 2016

Wine Enthusiast (Roger Voss) – 97/100
May 2018
"A warm, tannic wine with luscious red fruits, both powerful and elegant. Its density does not diminish the fruit expression, which balances with its structured aging potential. Best enjoyed from 2025."

Vinous (Antonio Galloni) – 96/100
January 2019
"La Gaffelière 2016 is superb. Lively and precise, with many nuances, the 2016 is a wine of remarkable clarity. Blood orange, lavender, rose petal, and mint add brilliance to this astonishingly beautiful Saint-Émilion. La Gaffelière is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, and it is the Franc that provides so much character and complexity to the wine. Simply an irresistibly captivating Saint-Émilion."

James Suckling – 96/100
February 2019
"Truly decadent and rich, with great aromas of earth, spice, frosted flowers, and fresh mushrooms, leading to a full-bodied palate, firm and chewy tannins, and a savory finish. Very, very serious wine. Best tried after 2025."

Serving
Ideal temperature: 16–18 °C
A light decanting (30 minutes to 1 hour) is recommended to soften the tannins and reveal the aromas.

Storage
Can be enjoyed now,
or stored in the cellar for another 10–15 years, depending on your tasting preferences and storage conditions.

Vintage 2016
A complex nose of ripe dark fruits, accompanied by notes of cocoa, soft spices, and subtle toast. On the palate, it is generous, with silky, well-integrated tannins supporting an elegant structure and a fine balance between power and freshness. The finish is long and refined, revealing mineral and woody nuances.

Vineyard
Area : 22 hectares
Soil : limestone plateau, clay-limestone slopes, more siliceous soils at the foot of the slope

Aging
14 months in barrels, 50% new (French oak)

Blend
70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc