Chateau La Gaffeliere - Saint Emilion 1er Grand Cru Red 2017

Wine Region: Bordeaux - France

Grape:70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc.

Winemaker notes: Spring was quite warm and wet, which encouraged an early start to the vegetation. The vintage will remain marked by the frosts at the end of April that affected the lowest-lying parts of the Gaffelière vineyard, causing a production's decrease about 35%. The unaffected plots flowered under good conditions, while the frost-affected vines developed in an uncontrolled way. A relatively dry and hot summer allowed moderate water stress to set in. The usual showers and storms in August allowed ripening to finish and contributed to the swelling of the berries. By the time of the harvest, 2017 appeared to be an early vintage and quite hot and dry. The terroirs that were lucky enough to escape the spring frost showed very good balance, with a quite moderate alcohol degree and marked freshness.”

Wine Enthusiast 96/100
This wine has good structure, delicious black-currant fruits and powerful tannins. Its dry core will drive this wine forward as it matures. The aftertaste brings out the fruitiness of the vintage. Drink from 2024. Roger Voss

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 97/100
Wine Spectator 93/100
Vinous 97/100
Falstaff 95/100

About the winery: Owned by the Malet Roquefort family for more than three centuries and located in the "golden triangle" between the hills of Chateaux Pavie and Ausone, Chateau La Gaffeliere embodies the excellence of fine red Saint-Emilion wines.