| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
The 2015 La Gaffelière is a wine of total finesse. Much less obvious and overt than most Saint-Émilions in this vintage, La Gaffelière makes its case on harmony and grace above all else. Bright, lifted Cabernet Franc–infused aromatics give the 2015 striking freshness and aromatic presence. The flavors are bright and nuanced to the core, with plenty of red cherry, espresso and floral notes. But back to the basics. In 2015 La Gaffelière is a wine that stands out because of its impeccable balance and sense of proportion. I loved it. Tasted two times. 2025 - 2045
A blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, La Gaffeliere 2015 is medium to deep garnet in color. It opens with slowly emerging scents of baked black plum, boysenberry preserves and tobacco leaf, plus suggestions of Indian spices and truffles. The full-bodied palate is rich with black fruit preserves and earthy layers, framed by grainy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long and earthy.
The 2015 La Gaffeliere, so impressive from barrel, here has an elegant bouquet with pure red currants, wild strawberry and black truffle scents that gain intensity with aeration but never slip into fifth gear. The palate is medium-bodied with crisp tannin, focused and tensile with impressive mineralité toward the finish. This is an intellectual Saint-Émilion that will have more to give with five to six years on the clock. Anticipated maturity: 2022 - 2045.
Impressive deep-set dark cherries, blueberries and dark plums here with neatly fitted spicy oak, which adds immediate complexity. Deep, long and fresh with vibrant acidity, underpinning ripe blackberries, plums and hints of chocolate. Superb wine. Try from 2022.
Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2015 La Gaffeliere has a slightly reticent, broody nose of black truffles, fertile loam and mossy bark over a core of warm plums, crushed black berries and black cherries plus a touch of iron ore. Medium to full-bodied with firm and very finely grained tannins with layers of softly spoken fruit and great freshness, it finishes long. 2021 - 2045
The 2015 La Gaffeliere is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. It offers attractive black cherries, boysenberry and mulberry fruit on the nose. Maybe it would benefit from a little more delineation, but the aromatics are focused and in sync with the oak. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin. The acidity is pitched nicely here lending ample freshness and poise. Energetic and vivacious, this is one of the best barrel samples that I have tasted from an estate that was revered during the 1960s. Time for a comeback? Drink: 2020 - 2045.
