2019 Château La Gaffelière Saint-Émilion Grand Cru

The premier crus of Chateau La Gaffeliere are famous for their elegant style and this 2018 vintage is this in all its facets. This beauty can be drunk fairly early but can also safely remain in the cellar until 2050. It is important to report that we (may) buy these wines directly at Chateau La Gaffeliere, so the wine comes from the cellars directly to our conditioned warehouse (so no parties that have roamed the world in questionable environments, which unfortunately happens too often with this type of wine).

Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2019 La Gaffeliere reveals classically refined scents of ripe black plums, warm blackberries and cigar box (cedar) with a touch of star anise, dried Provencal herbs, chocolate mint and truffles. Full bodied with a firm backbone of ripe, round tannins and a delicious freshness that lifts the densely layered fruit to a long finish.

95-97/100 Parker & 96/100 Suckling

"framed by wonderfully plush tannins and a lively line of freshness, finishing with a mineral twist. Irresistibly scrumptious!" - Parker

The grapes for the Château La Gaffelière Saint-Émilion (and the 2nd wine the Clos) are transported in small boxes and immediately kept overnight in a cold storage (8 ° C). The next morning the bunches are mechanically destemmed and the berries are sent to the optical sorting machine via a conveyor belt. This (very expensive) high tech machine selects at grape level and only the best berries are used. The ones that drop out (more than 30%) are fruits that are sold and do not enter the 1st or 2nd wine of Gaffelière.

Everything at Château La Gaffelière works with gravity so that pumping is avoided (gives unnecessary oxygen). The grapes fall by natural gravity below the sorting area to the 'barrel chamber'
and consists of 20 temperature-controlled tanks, made of stainless steel and in the shape of an inverted truncated cone. This new space dedicated to vinification is high-tech, innovative, aesthetic and practical. However, the architecture remains traditional due to its stone walls and wooden frame. Each parcel is individually processed and vinified to bring out the best expression of its terroir.

Since the underground cellar is located below the barrel chamber, natural gravity is also used to transfer the wine to the oak barrels where it is allowed to mature in peace. Approximately 50% is new French oak barrels, then both the Château La Gaffelière and the 2nd wine the Clos La Gaffelière stay in the barrels for 16 months and then get some bottle aging before we can enjoy the wine.