Château La Gaffelière - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2009

Jamessuckling.com

94 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe7/26/2017

Big and juicy with loads of ripe fruit and spice. Coffee and chocolate. Full. Powerful and intense. Exotic finish

Wine Advocate

90 / 100

byNeal Martinthe1/1/2013

Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. This is the best showing from 2009…so far! The nose is well defined with black cherries, minerals and dried herbs, touches of lavender emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with a soft entry. It is plush and rounded, low acidity and perhaps needs a little more delineation on the finish, with a touch of spice lingering on the aftertaste. Could this be one of those Saint Emilions that meliorates in bottle? I hope so. Tasted January 2013.

Wine Spectator

91 / 100

byJames Molesworththe3/31/2012

Very fleshy, with lush, velvety-textured plum sauce, currant paste and melted licorice notes, woven with toasty spice and backed by a dark chocolate bark note on the finish. Best from 2014 through 2023. 4,165 cases made. –JM

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe2/29/2012

An absolutely spectacular effort, the 2009 is one of the all-time great La Gaffelieres produced. One would have to go back to the 2005, 1947 or 1961 to find this level of quality from this ancient, historic vineyard planted adjacent to the walls of St.-Emilion, on the Cote Pavie. Dating back to the 1400s, this estate has been owned for over three centuries by the Malet-Roquefort family. Composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon (in the past it was two-thirds Merlot and the rest split between Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc), the 2009 reveals compelling elegance, tremendous intensity and opulence and more viscosity than one normally sees. While I thought the alcohol was well past 14%, the Chateau claims it is only 13.5%, which is relatively modest in this vintage. Lots of kirsch, licorice, incense, truffle, asphalt, blackberry and cassis notes dominate the aromatics and flavors of this full-bodied, viscous, fabulously pure, flamboyant St.-Emilion. Drinking it now may be considered infanticide by some consumers, but it is already attractive, and should last for 3-4 decades. Kudos to consultant Michel Rolland for fashioning one of the all-time greats from La Gaffeliere.(95+ points)

Wine Advocate

91-93 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/31/2011

2010: A lot of history follows La Gaffeliere, which is owned by Leo de Malet Roquefort, whose family has been in the St.-Emilion area since the 1400s. The quality at this estate has soared dramatically over the last decade. The 2010, a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, is very dense purple, with notes of graphite, charcoal and subtle smoke as well as blueberry and blackberry liqueur. The tell-tale elegance that is always a hallmark of this estate is well-presented in this fresh, lively wine, which is full, rich and intense yet at the same time exhibits loads of minerality and good acidity. This wine will probably shut down after bottling and drink well for 25-30+ years.

Le Figaro

93-95 / 100

byBernard Burtschythe6/30/2010

Robe impressionnante. Nez discret. En bouche, attaque serrée et tannique, belle longueur, compact, belle trame tannique, mais sèche un peu. Elégant, raffiné, des tannins tout en douceur, 80 % merlot, 20 % cabernet-franc.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

89-92 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe6/30/2010

Dark ruby-red. Precise though very ripe aromas of red fruits, licorice and minerals are complicated by Oriental spices. Then juicy, leanish and a bit tart in the mouth; began youthfully sullen but opened with air to show more seductive flavors of spicy dark plum, blackberry, soy sauce and underbrush. This finishes clean and long, with hints of blueberry, pine needle and clove. Nicely balanced and light on its feet. With only 13.5% alcohol, this has a very easy-to-drink quality, and it's easy to miss the wine's concentration.

La Revue du Vin de France

16,5-17,5 / 20

the5/31/2010

Les investissements dans la cuverie (petits contentants) permettent des vinifications parcellaires et des extractions accentuées par pigeage. Plus mûr et suave que d'habitude, le vin gagne en moelleux et en qualité de tanins. D'un bel équilibre, avec un fruit plus net et une recherche évidente de maturité, il s'allonge dans un style fin.

WeinWisser

17 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe5/17/2010

Extrem dunkles Purpur mit lila und violetten Reflexen. Tiefes, würziges Bouquet, Rauchnoten, Trüffel, dunkle Hölzer, getrocknete Pflaumenschalen, insgesamt etwas trocken. Mittelgewichtiger Gaumen, Extrakt und Körper zeigen wie immer eine gewisse Härte. Maskuliner St. Emilion mit Bourgeois-Charakter. 2019-2040

Le Point

17,5 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/6/2010

Fruits noirs, olive, grillé, épices, bouche ample, puissante, tendue, beaucoup de matière, des tanins veloutés et serrés à la fois. Vin d'argile, très structuré mais sans dureté, le milieu de bouche est sans faiblesse, le fruité toujours aussi éclatant et une bouche plus garnie que d'habitude. O=2016 G=20 ans

TAST

17-17,5 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/30/2010

Vin pur, de belle longueur, très sage mais avec beaucoup d’élégance et de finesse. Un vrai aristocrate.

Wine Enthusiast

93-95 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/30/2010

Soft, almost too smooth, the sweet plum fruits way underneath layers of velvet and plush. The structure is hard to find here, but the richness of the year is very apparent.

Falstaff

91-93 / 100

byPeter Moserthe4/30/2010

Noch verhalten, zart nach Dörrobst, Feigen, etwas Schokolade, Kräuterwürze. Süßer Körper, nach Kakao, mit dunkler Beerenfrucht unterlegt, frische Struktur, extraktsüßer Nachhall, harmonisch, gutes Potenzial.

Wine Advocate

94-96 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/28/2010

One of the old, historic vineyards in St.-Emilion, owned by a family that goes back to the 1400s, this wine has gone from strength to strength over the last decade. Cropped at 33 hectoliters per hectare in 2009, during a harvest that took place between September 29 and October 9, the final blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc will never produce a massive wine, but rather one of great elegance. The difference in 2009 is that this wine also has compelling intensity of fruit, and more opulence and viscosity than usual. At 13.5%, the alcohol is relatively modest compared to what many St.-Emilions achieved in this vintage. Dense purple, with terrific purity and a thickness without heaviness, black cherry, black currant, and super-concentrated cranberry and kirsch notes as well as hints of spring flowers and minerals are all present in this medium to full-bodied wine. It also possesses fabulous purity, texture, and transparency. Drink it over the next 30-35 years. (Tasted four times.) Drink 2010-2045.

Periodic Review of Wine

94-96 / 100

byAlan Duranthe4/28/2010

The impressively rich 2009 may exceed the top-notch 2008. It reveals a deep opaque ruby-purple color followed by sumptuous scents of plum, mulberry, cherry, sweet lilac, creamy blueberry, and lavender spells. A thrilling aromatic display is accompanied by a gorgeous mouthful of concentrated, medium to full-bodied, unctuous fruits of blueberry infused with lavender and liquefied-minerals. There is much opulence to the nuances and sensational purity to the definition of flavor. This estate has produced a seamless, completely satisfying 2009! Maturity period 2015-2031+

Wine Spectator

92-95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/9/2010

Racy and beautiful, with blueberry and blackberry aromas and flavors. Solid core of everything. Impressive.

Jancis Robinson

15,5 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/8/2010

Dark crimson. Lightly oxidised sample. Sweet and simple. Too much like grape juice; not enough wine complexity. Low-key nose. Simple and sweet, rather lightweight. Not much density. Spiky and alcoholic. Not really trying. Drink 2015-2024