Chatea La Gaffelière St Emilion 2014 6 Pack

96 POINTS

Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous

A wine of total finesse, the 2014 La Gaffelière is gorgeous. Dark and pliant on the palate, with striking nuance, it presents a striking interplay of juicy Merlot fruit and lifted, Cabernet Franc-inflected aromatics. Silky tannins add to the wine's exceptional feel and precision. The blend is 80 % Merlot and 20 % Cabernet Franc. The 2014 spent 25-30 days on the skins, while malolactic fermentation took place partly in tank and partly in barrique . Consulting oenologists Stéphane Derenoncourt and Simon Blanchard did a fabulous job with the 2014. In a word: superb!

95 POINTS

Wine Spectator

This cuts a wide swath, with mouthwatering tobacco and warm ganache notes leading the way, followed by a wave of fig, blackberry and black currant preserves. Shows remarkable definition already, even though the structure is strident. Tempting now, but just put this in the back of the cellar.

94 POINTS

Jane Anson - Decanter

Things were really getting into their stride at this point at La Gaffelière, with a clear step forward in terms of precision, balance and power. The replanted Cabernet Franc had now entered its second decade, starting to express undercurrents of black pepper spice, liquorice and gentle floral aromatics, adding acidity and power without overdoing anything. It's a great wine, with the generosity and impact of a St-Emilion Premier Cru Classé, building in complexity slowly over the palate. This will deliver for many decades.

94 POINTS

James Suckling

I love the precision and verve to this with berry, sliced mushroom and flower characters. Full body, yet so tight and refined. Beautiful length and focus.

93 POINTS

Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast

This is the second wine of Grand Cru Classé Château la Gaffelière. It revels in ripe juicy Merlot while keeping a sense of style and elegance. Produced by the Malet-Roquefort family, owners since 1705, the wine has some firm tannins while never losing sight of the generous black fruits. Drink from 2022.

93 POINTS

James Suckling

The sweet black-fruit nose and a rich silky palate make this a hedonistic wine, but there are some nice tannins, bright acidity and quite a long, serious finish. Lots of complex, savory character.

91 POINTS

Neal Martin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2014 La Gaffeliere appears to have improved since it's showing in barrel (I did hint at this at the time). The nose is perfumed and slightly floral, certainly well defined with neatly integrated oak, dark fruit emerging with aeration in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly edgy, chalky tannin on the entry, shrouded by plenty of dusky black fruit and a potent, graphite-tinged finish. This is one to watch.

Jancis Robinson

Tasted blind. Rather sumptuous nose. And then on the palate slightly simple candied-violets fruit. A little savagely extracted but certainly ambitious. Long. Score: 16+/20