2017 La Gaffeliere

The Grand Vin is the 2017 Château La Gaffelière. It’s a medium-bodied, balanced, downright pretty 2017 that shows the seamless, mid-weight style of the vintage nicely. Black raspberries, violets, and exotic spices all emerge from this purple-colored effort. It’s impeccably balanced, has integrated acidity, and fine tannin, all making it a high-quality wine from the vintage. It should keep for 10-15 years.

Composed of 40% Cabernet Franc and 60% Merlot, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 La Gaffeliere has pronounced cassis, baked plums and blackberry pie notes with suggestions of lavender, baking spices and rose hip tea. The palate is medium to full-bodied with a firm frame of ripe, fine-grained tannins, an electric intensity of bright black and blue fruits and wonderful freshness, finishing long and minerally.

The 2017 La Gaffelière has quite a high toned, floral, crème de cassis and black cherry scented bouquet that feels well defined, although the oak sticks out at the moment and will require several years to be absorbed. The palate is medium-bodied with quite bold tannin, layers of blackberry and black cherry fruit laced with graphite and spices. It feels like a solid La Gaffelière but it needs to manifest more elegance on the finish. However, I appreciate the purity of this Saint-Émilion and its persistence.