2023 Clos la Gaffeliere
Buying options
Tasting notes
Mostly Merlot with a splash of Cabernet Franc, the 2023 Clos La Gaffelière is a charming, soft, supple second wine offering ripe berries, leafy herbs, and spice on the nose. It's medium-bodied, has a nicely balanced, layered mouthfeel, ripe tannins, and a good finish. Drink it any time over the coming 8-10 years. Drink 2026-2033.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2023 Clos La Gaffelière has a discreet bouquet with quite precise dark berry, tea leaf and mint aromas that unfurl in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, veering more toward red fruit with a touch of black pepper on the finish. Delicious early drinking.
One of the stars of the vintage, the 2023 Château La Gaffelière checks in as 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc resting in 50% new barrels. Cassis, smoked black fruits, graphite, and crushed stone all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, layered, concentrated mouthfeel, plenty of tannins, and a great finish. It has a lot of oak but more than enough fruit and texture. It's serious stuff.
Black plums, flowers, cherries, and fennel fill the nose. On the palate, the wine is luscious, elegant, polished, fresh, sweet, and lifted, with lingering cherries, and plums on the backend in the salted-chocolatey, finish.
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.