Jamessuckling.com 97 / 100 byJames Sucklingthe7/26/2017 This is more precise and focused with black truffle and berry. Full body, layered and refined. Beautiful freshness and form. Framed.
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar 93 / 100 the8/31/2013 (an 85/15 blend of merlot and cabernet franc): Good deep ruby-red. Sexy aromas reminded me a bit of Burgundy: black raspberry, spices, graphite minerality, flowers and chocolate. Then penetrating and very firmly built, with a distinctly medicinal cast to its smoky black fruit and tobacco flavors and a strong spine of acidity. Very intense and fine-grained Saint-Emilion, but lush and seamless too. This chateau has produced consistently excellent wines in recent vintages and this should be the best of the bunch with six to eight years in the cellar. 93 (+?) points
Wine Advocate 95 / 100 byRobert Parkerthe3/1/2013 The 2010's final blend of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc offers up impressive levels of red, blue and black fruits as well as some toasty oak and crushed rock, giving it minerality. Of course, the acidity in this vintage, with its lower pHs than 2009, provide a freshness and precision that is rare for wines so rich. This wine has plenty of tannin, so give it 4-6 years of cellaring and drink it over the following 25-30 years.This is a great wine from Comte Leo de Malet Roquefort’s estate, which has been owned by his family since the 1400s. Normally this estate tends to produce a relatively finesse-styled St.-Emilion, and the 2010 still leans in that direction, but it has more fat, muscle and sinew than in most vintages. The choice of Stephane Derenoncourt to manage the vineyard seems to have resulted in much lower yields, and ultimately a wine with much more richness and persistence on the palate.95+
Wine Advocate 89 / 100 byNeal Martinthe2/14/2013 Tasted at the Union de Grand Cru in London. The La Gaffeliere 2010 has a precise nose, tightly wound and needs to show a little more expression. It begins to unfold in the glass, offering blackberry, quince and black olive aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with a saline, quite spicy entry. It is fleshy in the mouth, hints of leather complementing the dark berry fruit with hints of tobacco on the finish. This has improved since its barrel showing. Tasted November 2012 (89 + )
Wine Advocate 88-90 / 100 byNeal Martinthe5/31/2011 This has a very high-toned bouquet with strong liquorice and peppermint scents...like walking into a confectionary shop. The palate is very tannic with dense toasty black fruit, a touch of hardness on the entry, sweet with hints of coconut on the finish. Pleasurable but lacking a sense of terroir at the moment. Tasted April 2011.
Wein Wisser 17 / 20 the5/30/2011 Auffallend helle Farbe, Granat mit rubinrotem Rand. Florales Bouquet, Blattnoten, sogar ein Hauch Geraniol, Tabaknuance. Im Gaumen saftig und erstaunlich weich, mittlerer Körper, kokosnoten und Damazenerpflaumen. Kann noch zulegen. 2018-2035
Asian Palate 85-87 / 100 byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe5/24/2011 This is a very tannic, dark berry fruit filled wine with toasty oak notes which are obtrusive and jutting out right now. This wine lacks balance and is too heavy in both its tannin and oak components. Need to retaste in 6-12 months.
Le Point 17 / 20 byJacques Dupontthe5/12/2011 Nez fermé, trace de fruits noirs, bouche vive, cerise, griotte, vin élégant, minéral, fin, droit, bel équilibre, tanins granuleux, long, éveillé, beaucoup de finesse. O=2018 G=20 ans
Jamessuckling.com 92-93 / 100 byJames Sucklingthe4/30/2011 Tasty and juicy, with a lovely blackberry and chocolate character. Round and velvety. Shows a lovely richness.
Decanter Magazine 17,5 / 20 byJames Lawther MWthe4/30/2011 Beautifully elegant wine with the extra depth of fruit similar to '09. Fine, long finish with a cool limestone terroir note. Drink 2018-2040. (17.5 points)
Wine Spectator 88-91 / 100 byJames Molesworththe4/30/2011 Ripe and rounded, with a velvety feel to the blackberry, blueberry and raspberry fruit. Shows nice range, with a suave finish. —J.M.
TAST 16 / 20 by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/30/2011 Les échantillons dégustés apparaissaient très boisés, puissants et un rien entêtants, ce qui ne les empêchait pas de démontrer également une profondeur policée et une allonge intéressante.
The Wine Cellar Insider 93-95 / 100 byJeff Levethe4/25/2011 La Gaffeliere From an assemblage of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, with its deep ruby color, licorice, smoke, jammy dark berry and coffee aromas is a treat. Rich, polished, tannic, black and red fruits are found in the finish. 93-95 Pts
Jancis Robinson 17 / 20 byJancis Robinsonthe4/14/2011 Very dark crimson. Very savoury nose. Thick and sweet and hugely ambitious! Lovely texture that recalls something like a Troplong Mondot. Lots of polish and pzazz. So smooth it could be drunk now without food, though it’s not excessively sweet. Overall dry, long finish with lots of pleasure. Drink 2015-2028
Jean-Marc QUARIN 16,75-17 / 20 byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/6/2011 Ma meilleure note donnée à ce cru en primeur Couleur intense, belle. Nez fin, fruité et finement crémeux. Bouche ample, onctueuse, se développant sur un toucher fin et une présence aromatique complexe. Après le milieu le vin se développe lentement sur des tannins fermes, un goût éclatant et une trame serrée et raffinée. C'est délicieux. Du grand vin qui rentre en compétition avec le 2005.
Wine Enthusiast 95-97 / 100 byRoger Vossthe4/6/2011 Structured, with the ripe fruits finely organised. The wine has weight, and dusty tannins, very perfumed in character. This is a beautiful wine that shows elegance as well as power. -R.V.