2017 Château La Gaffelière

Description

97   Lisa Perrotti-Brown
“The 2017 La Gaffeliere is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the nose is a little closed to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal fragrant scents of kirsch, black raspberries and warm plums plus suggestions of unsmoked cigars, rosehip tea and underbrush. Medium-bodied, the palate has fantastic elegance and sophistication, with tons of bright, perfumed fruit and exquisitely ripe tannins, finishing with bags of freshness and energy. Since the lower-lying sections of La Gaffeliere were affected by frost this year, this wine mainly comes from the section up on the Saint-Émilion plateau, near Ausone. Truly impressive!” (3/2020)

97   Antonio Galloni for Vinous
“The 2017 La Gaffelière possesses off-the-charts aromatic intensity in a mid-weight style that is hugely appealing. Wild rose petals, blood orange and spice give the 2017 striking aromatic intensity. Medium in body, lithe and supremely gracious, the 2017 is one of the real highlights of this challenging vintage. It is such a gorgeous wine. Don’t miss it.” (3/2020)

96   Roger Voss for Wine Enthusiast
“This wine has good structure, delicious black-currant fruits and powerful tannins. Its dry core will drive this wine forward as it matures. The aftertaste brings out the fruitiness of the vintage. Drink from 2024.” (3/2020)

93   Jane Anson
“Richly layered, clearly one of the best in this flight, with mouth-watering minerality (for me, that quality always come across as texture not taste). This is an excellent wine, intense in the way that not many are in 2017. Austere but ready to grow, it has bedded down and improved over ageing. An unusual blend because of the frost, but one that they are going to stick to over the long term. Drinking Window 2024 – 2040.” (9/2019)

93   James Suckling
“There are some sappy and leafy elements to the nose with a thread of red berries and fresh blueberries. The palate has plush, lithe and juicy appeal with smoothly rendered tannins and juicy, crunchy acidity. Drink or hold.” (12/2019)