2019 La Gaffelière, St-Émilion (Pre-Arrival)
SKU #1480698
95-97 points
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Sporting a deep garnet-purple color, the 2019 La Gaffeliere reveals a tantalizingly bright, fresh nose of ripe black plums, crushed blackberries and warm black cherries with touches of lavender, star anise, Sichuan pepper and fragrant earth. The vibrant black fruits completely fill the medium to full-bodied palate with loads of crunchy, energetic flavors, framed by wonderfully plush tannins and a lively line of freshness, finishing with a mineral twist. Irresistibly scrumptious! (LPB)
(6/2020)
95-97 points
Vinous
The 2019 La Gaffelière is a distinctive Saint-Émilion, which should be inferred positively. There is something atypically very tertiary about the nose, beautifully defined and focused with plenty of fruit, yet very complex and cerebral. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins, a fine bead of acidity and wonderful harmony. The silky texture belies the structure underneath and the finish is extraordinarily long. Ancient vintages of La Gaffelière like the 1961 are legendary. This ranks alongside them - the best I have ever tasted. Magnificent. (NM)
(6/2020)
95-97 points
Wine Enthusiast
This estate has made a dark, dense wine in this vintage. That density is penetrated by the freshness of the black currant fruits. The result is a wine that is powered both by structure and crisp fruit. There is definitely plenty of aging potential here. (RV)
(6/2020)
96 points
James Suckling
A vibrant, fragrant red with aromas of blackberries, currants, walnuts and mint chocolate. Medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins. Pretty walnut notes on the polished finish. Fantastic length. Driven acidity and focus. Try in 2025.
(2/2022)
95 points
Decanter
An estate with a gathering sense of excitement around it, and once again proves why with the 2019. Sleek and flavourful, with the insistent tug of limestone slowing things down and allowing the juice and the tension to really inform the palate. Creamy texture also, with blueberry and raspberry fruit played gently against tobacco and crushed stone minerality. Highly successful. Drinking Window 2028 - 2044 (JA)
(5/2020)
93-95 points
Jeb Dunnuck
The flagship 2019 Château La Gaffeliere is mostly Merlot, yet the cuvée always includes around 15% Cabernet Franc. It offers a complex array of spiced red and black fruits, cedary herbs, lead pencil, and a kiss of tobacco to go with a medium to full-bodied, concentrated, impressively balanced style on the palate. It shows the more classic style of the vintage, has no hard edges, and a killer finish. It’s going to be relatively accessible in its youth yet also age gracefully for 15+ years or more. Tasted twice.
(6/2020)
94 points
Wine Spectator
This rolls out dense fig, boysenberry and red currant paste flavors laced with pronounced chalky minerality and notes of tobacco, dried anise and juniper. The serious tannic drive on the finish puts this in the 'classically austere' camp. Worth cellaring for sure, but patience is required. (JM)
(3/2022)
K&L Notes
94-96 points Antonio Galloni for Vinous: "The 2019 La Gaffelière is deep, vivid and beautifully layered in the glass. Dark fruit, espresso, mint, lavender and mocha build as the 2019 opens up in the glass. Deep and fleshy, yet also light on its feet, it has a sense of translucence that carries through all the way to the finish. This is a stunning, riveting wine in every way. The Grand Vin is sourced from the core holdings comprised of about eleven hectares of vineyard. Tasted two times." (6/2020)
