Château La Gaffeliere, Grand Cru Historique, Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France, 2018

Overview of the Wine
The story of the Malet Roquefort family has its roots in 1705, in the heart of the terroir of Saint-Émilion. Generation after generation, its history has been intimately linked with that of Château La Gaffelière. 

The Malet family continues to write the history of this wine, generation after generation. Through this intimate relationship with the vine, going back centuries, the vineyards are developed with the same passion, combining ancestral methods and modern techniques in a constant quest for perfection. 

Winemaker
Alexandre de Malet Roquefort 

Grape / Blend
58% Merlot, 42% Cabernet Franc

Origin
Saint-Emillon, Bordeaux, France

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
The winter was very wet, so it was difficult to get into the vineyard before the beginning of April. Bud burst occurred in early April. We escaped two hailstorms at the end of May. Flowering was accompanied by heavy rainfall but fortunately fruit set was not much affected. Storms in June and July accentuated the pressure from mildew until véraison, which occurred at the end of July for the Merlot and during August for the Cabernet Franc.

Early August saw a heatwave, with temperatures approaching 40°C, causing some blockage at the end of véraison. We had to do some thinning on the Cabernet Franc for ripening purposes, by cutting out bunches showing delayed véraison. The whites were picked on 30/08 to maintain a certain acidity. The high temperatures and the mild weather allowed for harvesting in good conditions. Cool nights and warm days favoured finesse in the tannins.

97 Points - Wine Advocate
Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2018 La Gaffeliere is a little closed to begin, slowly unfurling to offer peeks at notions of stewed red and black plums, mulberries and Morello cherries, plus hints of damp earth, tar and bouquet garni. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is tightly wound, delivering crunchy red and black fruits with an approachable texture of fine-grained tannin's and loads of freshness, finishing long with a lifted perfume. This is a refreshing, beautifully perfumed and skillfully crafted expression of the vintage. Give it 4-5 years in bottle and then enjoy it over the next 20 years+.

97 Points - Wine Enthusiast
This estate is on a roll. Replete with powerful tannins and dense black fruits, this latest release continues the succession of fine vintages. Perfumed, ripe with berry flavors and, more importantly, with rich tannins, the wine will age impressively. Drink from 2027. Cellar Selection

97 Points - Wine Spectator
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.

96 Points - Decanter
The combination of Cabernet Franc and limestone give this wine both a beautifully floral-laced nose, and a sense of energy and lift as it travels through the palate. Extremely light-footed for a wine at 14.5 ABV%, barely discernible and the black fruits are followed by juice at every step of the way. Good stuff. Drinking Window 2026 - 2045

95 Points - James Suckling
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.

Product size: 750ml