2020 Chateau La Gaffeliere - St. Emilion 1er Grand Cru Classe

Decanter.com – 95 pts – GH: *Perfumed, delicate, generous and evocative all in equal measure. The fruit quality is excellent, so vibrant and lifted, shining out of the glass. Really bright with energy and dynamism. Lovely lifted expression full of rose petals, herbal-tinged raspberries, blackcurrants and plums. Chalky, creamy and salty, with a cooling freshness. Lots to like with classic elements as well as touches of the hot vintage. It’s not showing it’s best right now but this is delicious.* - 01/2023

Falstaff Magazin – (94-96) pts – PM: *Wildpflaume im Duft, Schokolade, intensiv kräutrig, Kräuterbitter, etwas Wachs. Schwarzer Pfeffer. Auch floral: Iris. Ein stattlicher Bau am Gaumen. Körnig, fleischig, ausgesprochen gut extrahiert, reiche Materie, eine Prise Grüntöne erhöht die Spannung, ohne die Harmonie zu stören, gut integrierter Alkohol, mazerationsfruchtiger, tabakiger Nachall. Ein ziemlicher Klotz, aber mit einer Aromenbegleitung guter Frische – und mit sehr guter Perspektive.* - 05/2021

Vinum Magazin – 18,5/20 pts: *Zurückhaltend, aber betont reintönig und fruchtig; schlanker Auftakt, seidige, elegante Entwicklung, grosse Länge über Tannin von mineralischer Frische; die ganz grosse Klasse in diesem Jahr und einer der Weine, die man nachkaufen sollte.* - 07/2023

WeinWisser – 17/20pts – GL, TW: *Verspieltes rotbeeriges Bouquet, Himbeermark, getrockneter Thymian und helles Graphit. Am mittleren Gaumen mit weicher Textur, stützender Rasse, reifem Extrakt und sehnigem Körper. Im gebündelten Finale finden sich Schattenmorelle und Wacholder.* – 03/2023

JancisRobinson.com – 17,5/20pts – JR: *55% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Organic certified by FR-BIO-10. Aged on lees in oak barrels (50% new). Intense nose with good freshness. Quite distinctive! Lots of balsam savour on the end of the palate and sufficient acidity and tannin. Very, very different from the sweet, oaky stereotype. Polished tannins. One to watch… But only if your taste is 21st century rather than 20th century.* - 11/2022

JamesSuckling.com - 96-97pts - JS: *Blackberry and black-olive aromas and flavors. Full-bodied with layers of fine tannins that fill the mouth. Expansive finish. The tannins are very fine, but abundant. Really impressive.* - 05/2021

Vinous.com – 98 pts – AG: *The 2020 La Gaffelière is superb. Rich, dense and explosive. Black cherry, gravel, licorice, grilled herbs and menthol race out of the glass. Deep, pliant and explosive, the 2020 is magnificent. At this stage, the 2020 is an infant, but that won't be a problem in a few years. This vivid, statuesque Saint-Émilion is nothing short of thrilling.* - 12/2022

Vinous.com – 96 pts – NM: *The 2020 La Gaffelière was a knockout out of barrel and so expectations were high broaching the wine in bottle. It delivers a sumptuous yet beautifully-defined bouquet with pure black cherry and red plum aromas, an underlying /mineralité/ that keeps it on its toes. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, quite saline, perhaps still a little closed post-bottling but with plenty of tension running from start to finish. It's a Saint-Émilion that says bugger off and come back (a lot) later.* - 12/2022