95-97
Galloni: "The 2021 La Gaffelière is a wine of extraordinary finesse and class. Time in the glass brings out striking depth and complexity. The aromatics alone are beguiling but everything about the 2021 speaks to elegance. Crushed red berry fruit, rose petals, blood orange, mint and saline notes punctuate the finish."
94-96
Neal Martin: "The 2021 La Gaffelière was picked September 22 to October 15, and matured in 60% French new oak. There is a healthy 42% Cabernet Franc here. The nose is quite open with black cherry, blueberry and touches of violet and peony; the oak is nicely integrated. In the mouth, this is medium-bodied with fine delineation, good focus and real midpalate weight. Conveying good intensity and vibrancy, this continues a strong run for this Saint-Émilion estate.
"
94-96
Perroti-Brown: "The 2021 La Gaffeliere is a blend of 50% Cabernet Franc and 50% Merlot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a little swirling and coaxing to unleash vivacious scents of wild blueberries, black raspberries, and black cherries, followed by hints of licorice, crushed rocks, wood smoke, and tapenade, with a waft of red roses. Medium-bodied, the palate is beautifully knit with lots of black fruit, floral and savory layers, framed by firm, ripe, grainy tannins and fantastic tension, finishing long and mineral-laced."
94-95
Suckling: "A very precise and curated wine with ultra-fine tannins that run the length of the wine. Medium body. Dark berry and dark chocolate flavors and a creamy finish. Classy."
93-95
Wine Cellar Insider: "Plummy, polished, soft, and fresh, the floral characteristics in the nose make an impression before you experience the multiple layers of sweet, ripe, juicy, dark plums, espresso, and chocolate in the mid-palate and in the round, soft, silky, long finish. Drink from 2023-2050."
92-94
Wine Advocate: "A notable success in this vintage, the 2021 La Gaffelière offers up aromas of sweet cherries and berries mingled with notions of licorice, loamy soil and spices. Medium to full-bodied, seamless and enveloping, it's supple and charming, with a fleshy core of fruit, lively acids and ripe, powdery tannins, concluding with impressive persistence. Tasted four times, twice at the château."
93
Decanter: "Succulent and supple, sugary, ripe, jammy tannins hit the palate with such a buzz and energy. It's not so complex at this point but I like the upfront nature: it's bright and bold, with bitter, salty minerality also coming through at the end - liquorice sticks, cedar, graphite. Clean, crisp and very enjoyable. Tannins are so smooth just perfectly integrated. Will be great in time and I love the cool mint aspect on the finish."
92
Falstaff: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Feines Nougat, schwarze Kirschen, ein Hauch von Pflaumen und Orangenzesten, zarte Edelholznuancen. Saftig, frisch, dunkle Beeren, etwas Cassis, gut integrierte Tannine, Nelken, schokoladiger Hauch im Abgang, hat einiges Potenzial."
17
Weinwisser: "Würzig-fruchtiger Beginn, Graphit, Baumnuss, schwarzer Pfeffer und rote Johannisbeere. Am kompakten Gaumen mit weicher Textur, sandigem Extrakt, engmaschigem Tanninkorsett, drahtigem Körper. Im verkapselten Finale verschlankt sich der St. Émilion, mazerierte Pflaumenhaut und mürbe Adstringenz, aufgerundet."
