Wine Spectator 94 / 100 par James Molesworth le 01/02/2021 Expressive and pure, with a long and refined set of cassis, bitter cherry and damson plum flavors entwined with bright savory and taut chalky mineral notes. The fruit darkens a bit through the finish and this adds some flesh and drive as it airs in the glass. Very solid. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2023 through 2036. 6,250 cases made. –JM
Yvesbeck.wine 96 / 100 par Yves Beck le 26/01/2021 Bouquet complexe, subtil, aux notes florales avec des nuances de violettes suivies de parfums chocolatés. Attaque friande et légèrement crémeuse. Belle énergie, avec une puissance maîtrisée et des tannins serrés aux grains fins. Structure acide juteuse soutenant idéalement l'expression aromatique jusqu'en finale. Une belle réussite et un style qui convient parfaitement à La Gaffelière ! Finale fruitée bien appuyée. Très belle persistance.
Jamessuckling.com 95 / 100 par James Suckling le 19/01/2021 Aromas of black cherries, flowers and cedar with sandalwood and stone. It’s full-bodied and very intense with wonderfully polished tannins that caress your palate and take you away. Give this time to come together. Try after 2025.
Vinous 94-96 / 100 par Neal Martin le 15/11/2019 The 2018 La Gaffelière is a little closed on the nose at present, demands coaxing before revealing scents of blackberry, bilberry and white pepper aromas. There is something...enigmatic about the bouquet. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannins. The oak is beautifully integrated and there is real tension and mineralité on the finish. I must confess that I was not expecting this to be as good as it shows. It is an outstanding La Gaffelière that will age with panache. In over 20 years of tasting this property, this is easily the finest that I have encountered.
Vinous 94-97 / 100 par Antonio Galloni le 03/05/2019 The 2018 La Gaffelière is once again one of the finest and most pedigreed wines in Saint-Émilion and all of Bordeaux for that matter. The high percentage of Cabernet Franc (37%) gives the wine striking aromatic nuance and complexity, as well as fabulous drive. Rose petal, sage, mint and blood orange all soar out of the glass in a stunning Saint-Émilion loaded with class and personality. Consulting winemaker Stéphane Derenoncourt has turned out another gem at this revitalized property. The blend is 63% Merlot and 37% Cabernet Franc.
Bettane & Desseauve 96-97 / 100 par Bettane & Desseauve le 03/05/2019 Très belle réussite grâce aux cabernets francs qui équilibrent la trame du début à la fin de bouche. Le grain calcaire étire le vin de façon magistrale.
Vinifera 95 / par Jacques Perrin le 01/05/2019 Le nez est remarquable, sur des notes de fruits noirs et d'épices avec une touche minérale. Très belle entrée en bouche, dense, charnue. Il se déroule sans heurts, crescendo, ourlé par une fine trame, avec en filigrane une fraîcheur étonnante. Grand vin.
Yvesbeck.wine 95-96 / 100 par Yves Beck le 01/05/2019 58% Merlot, 42% Cabernet FrancRouge grenat violacé. Bouquet fruité et frais avec des notes de baies rouges et une agréable touche de bois de réglisse. Je relève également une touche florale avec des notes de violettes. Au palais, le vin reflète bien la fraîcheur constatée au nez. Il est juteux, compact, équilibré et a du pep. Les tannins sont dotés d’un grain fin et ont la matière nécessaire pour s’accommoder de la vivacité de la structure. Belle intensité aromatique, dès la mise en bouche et jusqu’en finale. Finale fruitée et persistante. Un Gaffelière de caractère qui a de quoi aller dans le temps et sur lequel il faudra savoir patienter. 2025-2050
The Wine Cellar Insider 92-94 / 100 par Jeff Leve le 23/04/2019 Lush, polished and pure, the wine has a roundness to the fruit, flesh, concentration, silky tannins and a floral, licorice, espresso, cocoa and red pit fruit, plummy finish.
Wine Advocate 94-96 / 100 par Lisa Perrotti-Brown le 23/04/2019 Deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 La Gaffeliere reveals classically sophisticated scents of ripe black plums, warm blackberries and cigar box with touches of star anise, dried Provence herbs, chocolate mint and truffles. Full-bodied, it has a solid backbone of ripe, rounded tannins and lovely freshness lifting the densely layered fruit to a long finish.
Jamessuckling.com 95-96 / 100 par James Suckling le 12/04/2019 The blue-fruit and sea-salt character is fascinating in this. Full-bodied yet tight and very focused. It really lasts for minutes on the palate. Forceful but full of finesse as well.
Wine Spectator 94-97 / 100 par James Molesworth le 03/04/2019 Features a beautiful beam of cassis, bitter cherry and raspberry fruit streaming through, laced with chalky minerality and backed by floral and spice accents, all allied to a polished, luxurious feel that doesn't sacrifice definition or drive.
Decanter.com 96 / 100 par Jane Anson le 01/04/2019 You can feel the excitement building around this estate following extensive replanting and refocussing. The frost of 2017 changed the blend a little, and they decided to stick with it as they liked the results so much - meaning they are using less of the vineyard for the grand vin. Whatever they are doing, it works. This has rich creaminess through the mid-palate that balances the austerity and salinity of the limestone terroir, and the brambled autumnal fruit is ripe and very much to the fore. It's a delicious, complex yet pared-back wine with layers of tannin that cradle rather than crush. A brilliant Gaffeliere. I tasted the individual components at the estate a few weeks ago, and it's great to see how they've assembled the final blend. Harvested between 10 September and 9 October. 60% new oak. 3.57pH. IPT 76.Drinking Window 2027 - 2040
Wine Enthusiast 95-97 / 100 par Roger Voss le 01/04/2019 Barrel Sample. Fine tannins with a bold structure bond with the succulent fruit. A high proportion of Cabernet Franc perfumes and delicious blackberry fruits sustain its richness. It will age well.