The Purity and Elegance of a Saint-Émilion Premier Grand Cru Classé
The 2009 vintage will long be remembered at Château La Gaffelière, Premier Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Émilion in Bordeaux.
Product of great clay-limestone soils, the Grand Vin of Château La Gaffelière displays the classic style of a great Saint-Émilion: soft and pure. The Château La Gaffelière 2009 blend is dominated by the emblematic grape of the Right Bank, Merlot (90%) supplemented by Cabernet Franc (10%). Flamboyant and incredibly intense, the Château La Gaffelière 2009 reveals an aromatic bouquet with notes of black fruits, blueberry, blackberry and kirsch evolving liquorice notes after being swirled in the glass.
It is on the palate, however, that this wine truly shows off the breadth and refinement of its personality. With an impressive purity and elegance, the wine wraps the palate with its soft and refined texture. Precise and slender, this vintage lingers long into a delicious finish.
A superb Château La Gaffelière, shining with purity, elegance and sensuality, to be enjoyed between 2018 and the next two decades.
Parker : 95+ / 100
J. Robinson : 16 / 20
Wine Advocate-Parker :
An absolutely spectacular effort, the 2009 is one of the all-time great La Gaffelieres produced. One would have to go back to the 2005, 1947 or 1961 to find this level of quality from this ancient, historic vineyard planted adjacent to the walls of St.-Emilion, on the Cote Pavie. Dating back to the 1400s, this estate has been owned for over three centuries by the Malet-Roquefort family. Composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc (in the past it was two-thirds Merlot and the rest split between Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc), the 2009 reveals compelling elegance, tremendous intensity and opulence and more viscosity than one normally sees. Lots of kirsch, licorice, incense, truffle, asphalt, blackberry and cassis notes dominate the aromatics and flavors of this full-bodied, viscous, fabulously pure, flamboyant St.-Emilion. Drinking it now may be considered infanticide by some consumers, but it is already attractive, and should last for 3-4 decades.
- Alcohol
- 14.5
- Dessert wine
- No
- Environment
- Sustainable viticulture
- Decanter
- 18
- J. Robinson
- 16
- J. Suckling
- 94
- R. Gabriel
- 17
- Vinous - A. Galloni
- NM89
- Wine Spectator
- 91
- Country
- France
- Wine certification
- AOC
- Grape varieties
- Merlot/Cabernet Franc
- Vineyard
- Libournais
- Area
- Bordeaux
- Appellation
- Saint-Emilion
- Color
- Red
- Producer
- Château La Gaffelière
- Classification
- 1er grand cru classé "B"
- Parker
- 95+
- Allergens
- Contains sulphites