La Gaffelière 2016

Deep garnet in color, the 2016 La Gaffeliere has a nose of stewed red plums, black cherries, and kirsch, followed by hints of aniseed, mossy tree bark, and truffles. The medium-bodied palate is elegant and refined, delivering great freshness with soft tannins and an earthy finish.

The 2016 La Gaffelière has a more savory, perchance more Cabernet Franc–driven bouquet, but one that is well defined, with cedar and sandalwood notes judiciously tucked behind the brambly red fruit. The medium-bodied palate offers supple tannins and a fine bead of acidity. Fleshy and generous, yet displaying fine backbone and good persistence on the finish. A Saint-Émilion that has finally found its groove. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. 2023 - 2040

Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 La Gaffeliere opens with compelling wild blueberries, freshly crushed plums and kirsch scents plus hints of garrigue, underbrush, rose hip tea and pencil lead. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is wonderfully elegant with a soft, velvety texture and seamless freshness carrying the multilayered fruit to a long finish. Drink Date 2021 - 2045.

The 2016 La Gaffeliere has a reserved bouquet at first, one that gradually unfurls with quite intense black cherry and sloes, yet there seems to be a welcome restraint, a Saint Emilion that knows how important it was to not "push" the fruit too much. The palate is medium-bodied with very smooth and rounded tannin. The acidity here is nicely judged, and it feels very cohesive, with dark berry fruit mixed with a little cola and plenty of black pepper towards the satisfying finish. Maybe it would benefit from more on the aftertaste, but otherwise this is an excellent La Gaffelière, a château that is now beginning to deliver the goods.