Chateau La Gaffeliere 2010 Saint Emilion, 1er Grand Cru Classe
Item Number: 11 10 324 10
Quick Taste
- 98 Points!
- Premier Grand Cru Chateau
- "mouthwatering briar, loganberry, mulberry and blackberry fruit"
- "This is a wine that is elegant as well as powerful."
- Extremely Limited!!
About Chateau La Gaffeliere 2010 Saint Emilion, 1er Grand Cru Classe
A rare treat! A finely aged Right Bank Bordeaux ready to enjoy. Managed today by the celebrated Stephane Derenoncourt, Chateau La Gaffeliere is one of the oldest, family-owned vineyards in the St. Emilion appellation of Bordeaux. The family can trace their roots in the Right Bank all the way back to the 1400s
Today the 91-acre Saint Emilion vineyard has soils of clay, limestone, chalk, and sand and is planted 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc with vines averaging 40 years of age.
2010 was of course a spectacular vintage and this wine has been aging beautifully in the chateau cellars. A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, the grapes were hand-harvested and carefully selected by an optical sorter. Fermentation was in stainless steel tanks and the wine aged in 50% new French oak barrels for 14-16 months.
Gilbert and Galliard scored this 98 points on release saying "Already singled out for its 2009 vintage, Château la Gaffelière has once again confirmed its rising quality. It is clear that the work of the consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt has started to pay off. The color is deep with crimson highlights. The nose is pure and exudes red fruit. Warmth on the palate is balanced by freshness, supported by an elegant tannic structure. The taste of fruit stays on the palate.
James Suckling scored this 97 points saying "This is more precise and focused with black truffle and berry. Full body, layered and refined. Beautiful freshness and form. Framed."
Wine Spectator scored this 96 points saying "This takes the power of the vintage and puts it in its pocket for later, preferring instead to let mouthwatering briar, loganberry, mulberry and blackberry fruit strut its way forward, enlivened with roasted wood spice and supported by suavely but thoroughly embedded iron-tinged structure. Should cruise for two decades. Best from 2016 through 2035."
Robert Parker scored this 95+ saying "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."
Wine Enthusiast Magazine scored this 95 points saying "A big, bold, ripe wine with firm tannins and dark, solid fruits. The wine has acidity coming from the black currant flavors. Continuing the impressive quality of wines from La Gaffelière, it has weight and a rich feel to it, along with a tight, mineral final texture. This is a wine that is elegant as well as powerful."
Extremely Limited!!
Today the 91-acre Saint Emilion vineyard has soils of clay, limestone, chalk, and sand and is planted 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc with vines averaging 40 years of age.
2010 was of course a spectacular vintage and this wine has been aging beautifully in the chateau cellars. A blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, the grapes were hand-harvested and carefully selected by an optical sorter. Fermentation was in stainless steel tanks and the wine aged in 50% new French oak barrels for 14-16 months.
Gilbert and Galliard scored this 98 points on release saying "Already singled out for its 2009 vintage, Château la Gaffelière has once again confirmed its rising quality. It is clear that the work of the consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt has started to pay off. The color is deep with crimson highlights. The nose is pure and exudes red fruit. Warmth on the palate is balanced by freshness, supported by an elegant tannic structure. The taste of fruit stays on the palate.
James Suckling scored this 97 points saying "This is more precise and focused with black truffle and berry. Full body, layered and refined. Beautiful freshness and form. Framed."
Wine Spectator scored this 96 points saying "This takes the power of the vintage and puts it in its pocket for later, preferring instead to let mouthwatering briar, loganberry, mulberry and blackberry fruit strut its way forward, enlivened with roasted wood spice and supported by suavely but thoroughly embedded iron-tinged structure. Should cruise for two decades. Best from 2016 through 2035."
Robert Parker scored this 95+ saying "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."
Wine Enthusiast Magazine scored this 95 points saying "A big, bold, ripe wine with firm tannins and dark, solid fruits. The wine has acidity coming from the black currant flavors. Continuing the impressive quality of wines from La Gaffelière, it has weight and a rich feel to it, along with a tight, mineral final texture. This is a wine that is elegant as well as powerful."
Extremely Limited!!
Wine Details
- Alcohol % 13.0%
- Bottle Size 750 ml
- Wine Type Red
- Country France
- Region Bordeaux
- Appellation Saint-Émilion
