98

Antonio Galloni

Vinous

The 2020 La Gaffelière is superb. Rich, dense and explosive. Black cherry, gravel, licorice, grilled herbs and menthol race out of the glass. Deep, pliant and explosive, the 2020 is magnificent. At this stage, the 2020 is an infant, but that won't be a problem in a few years. This vivid, statuesque Saint-Émilion is nothing short of thrilling. 12/2022

96

Neal Martin

Vinous

The 2020 La Gaffelière was a knockout out of barrel and so expectations were high broaching the wine in bottle. It delivers a sumptuous yet beautifully-defined bouquet with pure black cherry and red plum aromas, an underlying mineralité that keeps it on its toes. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, quite saline, perhaps still a little closed post-bottling but with plenty of tension running from start to finish. It's a Saint-Émilion that says bugger off and come back (a lot) later. 12/2022

95

William Kelley

Robert Parker/Wine Advocate

A worthy follow up to the excellent 2019, the 2020 La Gaffelière bursts with aromas of plums, sweet berries, licorice, mint and loamy soil. Medium to full-bodied, seamless and concentrated, with lively acids and vibrant fruit flavors, it's built around powdery, fine-grained tannins. Cabernet Franc represents fully 40% of the blend. As I wrote last year, this estate, in many respects Saint-Émilion's sleeping giant, is awakening. 04/2023

95

Jean-Marc Quarin

Jean-Marc Quarin

Couleur sombre, intense et pourpre. Nez intense, très aromatique, fin, subtil et noble. Moelleux en entrée de bouche, très aromatique au milieu, parfumé, suave, le vin évolue noble au toucher, sur une belle finale savoureuse au grain fin. C'est long et très bon. Assemblage : 60 % merlot, 40 % cabernet franc. Degré d’alcool : 14°. pH : 3,47. Rendement : 42 hl/ha. Production : 70 % de la récolte.

97

James Suckling

James Suckling

Deep and intense notes of plums and blackberries with dark chocolate, toasted spices, walnut, crushed graphite and wet stones. Full-bodied with layers of ripe, velvety tannins that flow in a firm stream throughout the palate. Very structured. Delicious chocolate-wrapped black and blue fruit with spiced character and a really long finish. 60% merlot and 40% cabernet franc. Drink from 2028. 11/2023