2011 La Gaffeliere
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Tasting notes
Toasty dark fruit. Then more savoury on the palate. Elegant dry tannins, there's refinement here without any attempt to crowd-please. Lithe and dark and long and savoury. (JH)
Critic scores
Average Score
James Suckling
Decanter
More reviews and scores
85% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc. A little wishy-washy – perhaps slightly underdeveloped flavours at harvest? Traditional, firm structure, fairly light body but somewhat bony and hard-edged. (RH)
One of the oldest family-owned vineyards in St.-Emilion, La Gaffeliere has been owned by the same family since the 1400s. The 2011 performed slightly differently in multiple tastings, but overall, it appears to be an outstanding, elegant, restrained, somewhat austere, but impressively built wine. The final blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc produced nearly 5,000 cases from their 42+ acre vineyard. The wine exhibits lots of earthy, balsam, resiny notes interwoven with red and black currants, cedar and underbrush. This elegant, dense, medium to full-bodied St.-Emilion should drink nicely for 15-20 years.
Intense, dark cherry crimson, ripe cherry aromas, intense but not very fragrant. Notes of violets and oak char. Lots of sweet oak on the palate, toasty. Smooth, sweet, rich. (JH)
About the producer
Bordering both Ausone and Pavie, this property has been owned by the De Malet Roquefort line for over 300 years – making them the oldest winegrowing family in Saint-Emilion.