Château La Gaffelière - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 1996 4df5d4d9d819b397555d03cedf085f48

Wine Advocate

87 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/1999

This is a quintessentially elegant wine, with charm, sweet fruit, and a velvety texture. Tannin in the finish suggests it will last longer than expected. The color is a deep ruby, and the nose offers up sweet black cherries intermixed with a peppery, mineral character, subtle new oak, and well-integrated acidity and tannin. The finish is long and pure. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2012.

Wine Spectator

88 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe1/31/1999

Fresh and vivacious, with chocolate, cherry and raspberry aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a medium, fruity finish. Needs a bit more fruit concentration to be outstanding, but well done. Best after 1999. 6,000 cases made.

Wine Advocate

86-87 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe9/1/1998

La Gaffeliere's 1996 is a fine effort. The property's hallmark style produces medium-bodied, soft, attractive, lightweight wines that are savored for their delicacy and subtlety as opposed to blockbuster impact. The 1996 reveals a dark plum color, a sweet nose of black-cherries and cassis, medium body, excellent purity, nicely integrated wood and acidity, and a sweet, finely textured, savory finish. Somewhat austere, the wine will benefit from 2-3 years of cellaring, and will keep for 15 or more years. Last tasted 11/97

Wine Advocate

86-88 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/28/1998

Clearly a product of the finesse school of winemaking, La Gaffeliere's 1996 appears to be in a transitional stage of its cask evolution. The wine exhibits an attractive dark ruby color, along with spicy vanillin, cherry, strawberry, and red and black currant fruit. Lean but pure, delicate, and medium-bodied, this is a well-made wine with elegance and finesse, as well as enough fruit for readers with hedonistic inclinations. If this offering sweetens and expands, it will merit a score in the upper-eighties. Anticipated maturity: 2000-2012.