2015 chateau la gaffeliere premier grand cru classe b, saint-emilion grand cru
Why We're Buying
Château La Gaffelière (St. Émilion Premier Grand Cru) is one of the oldest, family-owned vineyards on the Right Bank, going back to the 15th century. The wine estate is also getting better with age. Its flagship merlot-dominant blend earned its highest-ever rating on Wine-Searcher.com in 2019.
Critics Scores
Decanter
Cool elegance from St-Emilion. Refined, fragrant nose with lovely purity of fruit. The palate is fresh and finely etched. Shows balance and harmony.
Wine Spectator
Enticing warm plum, fig and blackberry compote notes roll through, inlaid with singed alder and tobacco accents. There’s a light tug of warm cast iron and another wave of fruit after that, all supported by well-buried chalky minerality. This is a very strong showing and has put on some weight since the barrel tasting. Best from 2020 through 2040.
Wine Enthusiast
From its privileged position on the sweep of vines leading up to the medieveal city of Saint Émilion, this estate has made an impressive wine in this vintage. It is rich and concentrated both in its structure and its black fruits. Complex, dark and dense, it can age for many years. Drink from 2026. Cellar Selection
Jeb Dunnuck
From further up the slope from Canon-la-Gaffelière, the 2015 Château La Gaffelière is terrific, and more than worth your time and money. A blend of 70 Merlot and 30 Cabernet Franc that’s loaded with notions of cassis, toasted spices, classy oak, and licorice, it hits the palate with a full-bodied, tight, focused texture carrying good acidity and plenty of tannins. With terrific mid-palate depth, impeccable balance, and a great finish, it’s nowhere near primetime but is a gorgeous bottle of wine. Forget bottles for 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades.
James Suckling
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.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
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.