96 POINTS
Roger Voss - Wine Enthusiast
This is beautifully textured with great black fruits and rich tannins. The wine's polished perfumes give a refined, finely textured wine. Ready to age, drink from 2028.
96 POINTS
Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous
The 2021 La Gaffelière is a wine of sublime elegance and understated finesse. Aromatic and pliant, the 2021 shows the more delicate side of the year, yet all the Gaffelière signatures are present. Lavender, mocha, spice, dried herbs and leather are some of the many notes that grace this exquisite Saint-Émilion. The balance here is mind-blowing. Give this time, as it won't be ready to drink anytime soon.
96 POINTS
Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous
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. Points: 95-97
96 POINTS
Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous
The 2021 Canon-La-Gaffelière is gorgeous, but it is also very closed today. I view that as a positive for its long-term prospects, but readers need to be patient here. The 2021 is a super-classic Canon-La-Gaffelière redolent of strong floral and mineral accents. Its energy and sheer breeding are truly remarkable. I can't wait to taste it with bottle age. Bright saline notes extend the long, beautifully persistent finish. The 2021 was aged 40% in new oak, 20% in tank and the remainder in used oak and 400-liter barrels. This really pulses with energy.
95 POINTS
Neal Martin - Vinous
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. Points: 94-96
Extremely perfumed with enticing cabernet franc aromas of black cherries and lavender. Some sandalwood. Medium-bodied with very fine tannins that are polished and beautiful, this wine has lovely length and freshness. 45% cabernet franc, 35% merlot and 20% cabernet sauvignon. Enjoyable now, but better in two or three years.
95 POINTS
Georgina Hindle - Decanter
This has a gorgeous herbal-fruity nose, scented, fresh and lively with raspberry leaf. Impactful on the palate straight away - the fine-grained tannins hit the mouth and expand slowly alongside the liquorice spice and dark berry fruit with violet aromas. It's direct and linear at the moment, taut, and driven in one line. You feel it's coiled up ready to spring with strawberry fruit and the Cabernet aspects coming through. It's delicately textured, the mouthfeel is light and bouncy while the flavours slowly expand vertically. Touches of sweetness, bitterness and minerality appear adding interest from start to finish. I love the clarity you get. Impactful and full of complexity. Will be lovely to taste this in bottle. 5% more Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon than usual as some Merlot was lost to frost and mildew. A production of 98% grand vin.
95 POINTS
Antonio Galloni MW - Vinous
The 2021 Canon La Gaffelière is striking. Aromatic and expressive, with no hard edges, the 2021 impresses with its balance and overall harmony. All the elements are so nicely integrated. Crushed red berry fruit, white flowers, mint, rose petal and orange zest all race through this super-appealing, mid-weight Saint-Émilion. The 2021 is so well put together. It's is such a sensual wine. Points: 94-96