2023 Chateau La Gaffeliere - St. Emilion 1er Grand Cru Classe

Decanter.com – 95 pts – GH: *A deep nose, floral, so perfumed, lots of ripe black bramble fruit. Concentrated and so full, there’s density on the palate, there’s so much ripe red fruit that fills the mouth with a soft grip to the tannins that support the fruit but doesn't overwhelm. This feels instantly classy, layered and complex with a gentle confidence. It’s round and slightly fleshy, although feels sculpted and muscular with volume, a lovely juiciness and a touch of dark chocolate, cedar and liquorice on the finish. Sophisticated.* - 04/2023

Falstaff Magazin – 94 pts – PM: *Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Feinwürzig, schwarze Waldbeeren, ein Hauch von Kirschen, zart florale Nuancen, kandierte Zesten, einladendes Bukett. Saftig, gute Komplexität, feine Extraktsüße, balanciert, finessenreich strukturiert, reife Kirschen im Nachhall, ein delikater Stil, bereits gut entwickelt.* - 05/2024

Vinum Magazin – 95/100 pts: *Ungemein floral, frisch im Ausdruck, kühler Stein, verführerisch; schlanker Auftakt, sehr vertikal, feinste Gerbstoffe, hervorragende Säure; der Wein zeigt Rasse und Schliff, endet langanhaltend, rotfruchtig. Besticht einmal mehr mit Eleganz statt mit Kraft.*

WeinWisser – 18,5/20 pts – GL, TW: *Delikates Bouquet, frischgepflückte Alpenheidelbeere, edle Cassiswürze und satter Veilchenstrauß. Am saftigen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, engmaschigem Tanninkorsett, betörender Extraktfülle und geradlinigem Körper. Im konzentrierten langen Finale eine Explosion von Heidelbeeren, Baumnuss, dunklem Graphit und feinkörniger Adstringenz. So gut wie noch nie!* – 04/2024

JancisRobinson.com – 16,5+/20pts – JL: *58% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Franc. Cask sample. Elegant and floral. Terroir-driven on the palate. Tight and firmly structured. A touch reticent and austere at the moment but clear potential. Worth waiting.* - 04/2024

Vinous.com – (93-96) pts – AG: *The 2023 La Gaffelière is a dense, powerful wine. As has been the case since 2018, La Gaffelière has a strong Franc component—40% in 2023. Usually, the aromatics are quite lifted, but this wine is rather dense. Nothing in particular stands out, as all the elements are impeccably balanced. This will need time to be at its best, but it shows promise. The introduction of 500-liter barrels and a reduction of new oak closes the wine a bit, but there's a ton of raw energy here and a good bit of tannin, too.* - 04/2024

Vinous.com – (94-96) pts – NM: *The 2023 La Gaffelière is very pure and floral on the nose, with black cherries intermingling with violet and iris flower scents. The new oak is neatly integrated here. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins and layers of lightly spiced black fruit. Cedar and graphite furnish the poised but persistent finish. This is another in a succession of impressive wines from this estate that just oozes sensuality. Superb.* - 04/2024

Thewinecellarinsider.com – (94-96) pts – JL: *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. Drink from 2028-2050.* - 05/2024