Located on the pied de côte (foot of the slope)south of the medieval village of Saint-Émilion, Château Canon La Gaffelière'sterroir consists of clay-limestone and clay-sand soil that is very permeableand particularly efficient at retaining heat.
The choice of grape varieties is rather atypicalfor the appellation in light of the soil: almost a perfect 50/50 divide betweenMerlot and Cabernet. The Cabernets ripen early and remarkably well on Canon LaGaffelière's warm soil, adding power and aromatic complexity to Merlot'sopulence to create wines of natural elegance and finesse.
In keeping with vineyard management adapted to eachplot, the vat room was designed to be able to ferment and house wine made fromeach one in order to fine tune the final blend. Fermentation takes place slowlyand temperatures are kept under close control to bring out the best the grapeshave to offer. The wine is aged on the lees to enhance its intrinsic qualitiesand each barrel is treated individually. Non-interventionist winemaking ispractised and in such a way as to make the most of vintage character.
🏅 1994 Robert Parker 90 pts
This is one of the top estates of St.-Emilion. The ambitious proprietor, Comtes de Neipperg, is to be commended on the terrific job he has done at Canon-la-Gaffeliere since the mid-eighties. A dense purple color is accompanied by strikingly pure aromas of Provencal olives, jammy cassis, and smoky pain grillee notes. Ripe and fat, this medium to full-bodied, moderately tannic, muscular yet elegant wine needs another 2-4 years of cellaring. It should keep for 16-17 years. It is an impressive, well-balanced 1994.
🏅 2005 Robert Parker 94 pts
This fragrant, lush, seductive wine offers up plum, Christmas spices and crème de cassis. This dense garnet/purple wine also has loads of blackcurrant and black cherry fruit, terrific aromatics, a full-bodied mouthfeel, beautiful purity, texture, and a long, long finish.
🏅 2006 Wine Enthusiast 93 pts
La Gaffelière, now under the expert guidance of Saint-Emilion’s guruStéphane Derenoncourt, is producing serious wine. None more so than this firmlyclosed but powerful and dense 2006. Bitter chocolate and dark tannins come together to form a shell covering the weight of the fruit. It will probablyalways be firm, but the black currant fruit flavors will come through eventually—maybe in 5–7 years.
🏅 2006 Vinous 92 pts
Bright medium ruby. Highly aromatic nose combines blackberry, violet,tobacco leaf, licorice and cedar. Dense, lush, sweet and fine-grained, with awonderfully pliant, silky texture devoid of rough edges. Utterly seamless,savory wine but with no shortage of vinosity or energy. Finishes suave and very long.
🏅 2016 James Suckling 96 pts
The aromas are very complex with sweet tobacco, black truffles, blueberries and blackberries. Subtle. Menthol, too. Full-bodied yet so elegant. Structure with finesse and purity. The tannins are melted in the wine. Fabulous young wine.
