Château Canon la Gaffelière - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2009 4df5d4d9d819b397555d03cedf085f48

Wine Advocate

94 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/18/2019

Vinous

93 / 100

byNeal Martinthe3/15/2019

The 2009 Canon-la-Gaffelière has a very attractive bouquet with truffle and smoke infused black fruit, hints of roasted chestnut, secondary aromas beginning to come through nicely. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, very well balanced with hints of black toast and white pepper filtering through. This is well defined and more persistent than some of its peers, likewise it has become more classic in style in recent years. Superb. Tasted at BI Wines & Spirits' annual Ten Year On tasting. Drink 2019-2040.

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

byNeal Martinthe1/1/2013

Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. You cannot really argue with wines as downright sexy as this! The 2009 has a rich, sumptuous nose with pure macerated dark cherries and cassis with hints of graphite underneath. The oak is well integrated and precise. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannins that are perfectly enmeshed with the fruit, lending it grace and harmony. The finish is quite backward but it is very well defined and glides to its conclusion. Tasted January 2013.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

92 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe7/31/2012

Bright ruby-red. Jammy, exotic aromas of black raspberry and smoke; wild and slightly high-toned in a syrah way. Dense, sweet and layered, with lovely saline complexity to the ripe black raspberry flavor. Finishes sweet, plush and very long, with smooth tannins and plenty of early sex appeal.

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/29/2012

An intriguing blend of nearly 50% Merlot, a whopping 35% Cabernet Franc and the rest Cabernet Sauvignon (a somewhat unusual combination for this region), the 2009 reminds me of the 1990. A big, inky/purple-tinged wine with just over 14% natural alcohol, it exhibits exotic, flamboyant aromas of espresso roast, incense, sweet black cherries, black currants, licorice, asphalt, barbecue smoke, Christmas fruitcake and herbs. Full-bodied with silky tannins, luscious fruit, a hedonistic yet complex personality, low acidity, noticeable tannin and enviable purity, this head-turning beauty can be enjoyed over the next 15-20 years. This has been one of my favorite St.-Emilions since the late 1980s, when proprietor Stefan Neipperg began to resurrect this once moribund estate that made so many mediocre wines in the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s (the 1982 was shameful). It is one of hundreds of examples of properties that have been returned to life, providing Bordeaux with greater quality, diversity and recognition than it has ever had in its long history.

Jamessuckling.com

97 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/15/2012

Porcini mushrooms, with dark and ripe fruits. Turns to licorice and violets. Full body, with round and soft tannins and a long delicious finish. The texture is gorgeous. So much going on in the glass. Try after 2018.

Wine Spectator

96 / 100

byJames Molesworththe1/18/2012

This is well-cloaked for now in roasted vanilla and espresso notes, but there's ample, fleshy fig sauce and mulled blackberry fruit in reserve. The finish sports a long, melted licorice snap feel. Dense, but beautifully polished and pure. For the cellar. Best from 2015 through 2030. 5,140 cases made. –JM

Le Figaro

94-96 / 100

byBernard Burtschythe6/30/2010

Robe très sombre. Nez réglisse et épices. En bouche, attaque fraîche, belle longueur, une grande élégance, finale splendide toute en finesse. Belle matière généreuse, frais en finale. 55 % merlot, 35 % cabernet-franc, 10 % cabernet-sauvignon.

timatkin.com

95 / 100

byTim Atkin MWthe6/30/2010

13.5% alcohol. 55M, 35 CF, 10CS This is one of the most impressive wines yet from Stephan von Neipperg’s revitalised estate. Unlike many St Emilions in 2009, it is harmonious and poised with enough acidity to balance the ripe, textured fruit. This is restrained and elegant, with lovely use of oak, considerable grace and beautifully integrated tannins. Likely to be reasonably priced, too. 10+ years.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

89-92 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe6/30/2010

(a blend of 55% merlot, 35% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon; 34 hectoliters per hectare; 90% new oak; 14% alcohol) Ruby-purple. Perfumed nose offers pure dark berries, herbs and licorice lifted by a peppery nuance. Then sweet and spicy in the mouth, with very good intensity of black fruit flavor and a coffee-and-chocolate impression of ripeness. Perhaps deceptively easygoing today, finishing with good fruity persistence, a touch of warmth and hints of tar and licorice.

La Revue du Vin de France

17-18 / 20

the5/31/2010

Assemblage 55% merlot, 35% cabernet franc, 10% cabernet-sauvignon. A la différence du Clos de l'Oratoire, l'autre cru classé de Stephan Von Neipperg, celui-ci n'a pas été grêlé. "J'ai d'ailleurs produit 30% de plus qu'en 2008", déclare-t-il. Très séducteur, dans un profil classique, avec du moelleux dans les tanins et de la longueur, ce vin arrondi par un élévage présent mais équilibré et intégré avec élégance offre tenue et fraîcheur en finale.

WeinWisser

19 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe5/17/2010

55 % Merlot, 35 % Cabernet Franc, 10 % Cabernet Sauvignon, Ertrag: 34 hl/ha. Sattes Purpur-Granat mit lila Schimmer. Vielschichtiges Bouquet, im fetten Merlot eine wunderschön eigenständige Cabernet- Würze zeigend, schwarzbeerig- rauchige (vom Cabernet Sauvignon) sowie nussige und kräuterige Aromen (vom Cabernet Franc). Samtiger Gaumen dank seidiger Tannine, Kandis im süsslichen Extrakt, im langen, erhabenen Finale viel Irisch-Moos-Ricola-Würze. Eine Art 1998er, aber mit noch mehr Finessen! Gehört zu den grössten Jahrgängen dieses Weingutes. 2016-2032

Le Point

17 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/6/2010

Epicé, cassis, bouche douce, moelleuse, assez tannique, profond, tanins veloutés, long, frais. Elégant, équilibré, fin, tendu, très joli vin, racé. O=2016 G=20 ans

TAST

18 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/30/2010

Chair généreuse, fruit mûr sans paraître surmûr, grande onctuosité avec un tanin remarquablement fin, belle longueur.

WeinWisser

19-20 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/30/2010

Falstaff

93-95 / 100

byPeter Moserthe4/30/2010

Einlandende Herzkirschenfrucht. Orangen-zesten, zarte florale Nuancen. Zwetschkenröster. Elegant, ausegewogen, gut integrierte Tannine. Kirschen auch im Abgang, sehr gute Länge, etwas Nougat, mineralischer Nachhall.

Periodic Review of Wine

92-94 / 100

byAlan Duranthe4/28/2010

Comtes Neipperg's 2009 Canon la Gaffelière is an amazing offering that is highly capable of exceeding the exceptional 2008! This is fabulous wine with an opaque purple followed by crushed-limestone purities, crème de cassis, blueberry, black cherry, blue flower, and a tinge of lavender. This Red lingers in flavour with an almost savory mouth, succulence, medium to full-body, finesse, and a round substantial finish. A 2009 of concentration, length, and beauty! Maturity period 2015-2029.

Wine Advocate

94-96 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/28/2010

Proprietor Stephan von Neipperg has made so many terrific wines at this estate since the late 1980s, it’s hard to say that the 2009 is going to turn out to be the finest, but did it show well on the four separate times I tasted it! A final blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, and a whopping 10% Cabernet Sauvignon (somewhat unusual for this area of St.-Emilion), the natural alcohol was 14%. Stephane Derenoncourt is the long-time wine consultant at all of Stephan von Neipperg’s estates. Yields were shockingly low here, 28 hectoliters per hectare, and the wine is a beauty of both elegance and power. Dark ruby/purple, with notes of incense, sweet cedar, black cherry jam, cassis, and blackberry as well as licorice and subtle smoke, this wine has superb texture, a full-bodied mouthfeel, stunning concentration, and not a hard edge to be found. It is one of those remarkable 2009s with amazing power and density, but also tremendous finesse, precision, and freshness, an anomaly in itself. This wine should drink well for 15-20 years, based on the fact that the 1990, a vintage far lower in acidity and not nearly as concentrated, is still at the top of its game. Bravo! (Tasted four times.) Drink 2010-2030.

Anthony Rose

92-94 / 100

byAnthony Rosethe4/26/2010

Dense colour, quite sweet fragrance with a fair whack of vanilla oak and liquoricey cola spice; good sweetly ripe opulent black cherry fruit quality, nicely defined by supple tannins and fresh acidity with background oak spice bringing some roundness of texture and complexity; there's some firm backbone behind but overall it's nicely balanced. Excellent wine. 92-94+

Wine Advocate

93-95 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/21/2010

Tasted at Canon-la-Gaffeliere, cropped between 1st and 10th October at 34hl/ha, this is a blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, matured in 90% new oak, the bouquet takes a great deal of coaxing from the glass, reluctantly offering blackberry, raspberry coulis, a scent of wet clay and mulberry. The palate is full-bodied with firm tannins, off-dry, good weight in the mouth and fine definition, perhaps a little more austere than I anticipated but I like that (the coolness of the sample accentuating the tannins here.) A touch of savoury fruit towards the grainy finish, very good length and harmony, the pH plays a fundamental role in balancing the finish and engendering such freshness. Excellent. Tasted March 2010.

Wine Spectator

94-97 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/9/2010

The Cabernet Franc really comes out here, with roasted berry, coffee bean and citrus following through to blackberry. Full-bodied, with fabulous concentration of fruit and supersoft tannins, a long, long finish. This is so juicy and wonderful. No dry tannins here.

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/8/2010

Blackish crimson. Fragrant, even lightly soapy. Well integrated and relaxed. Fine boned. More acdity on the finish than one might expect so not super-stunning but pretty good. Some might find this eviscerated. I think it’s quite elegant. Drink 2015-2025