Chateau la Gaffeliere 2017

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2017 La Gaffeliere is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the nose is a little closed to begin, slowly unfurling to reveal fragrant scents of kirsch, black raspberries and warm plums plus suggestions of unsmoked cigars, rosehip tea and underbrush. Medium-bodied, the palate has fantastic elegance and sophistication, with tons of bright, perfumed fruit and exquisitely ripe tannins, finishing with bags of freshness and energy. Since the lower-lying sections of La Gaffeliere were affected by frost this year, this wine mainly comes from the section up on the Saint-Émilion plateau, near Ausone. Truly impressive!"

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "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."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, intensives schwarzes Beerenkonfit, mineralisch, floraler Touch, facettenreiches Bukett. Straff, engmaschig, feiner Nougatanklang, feiner Säurebogen, schokoladiger Touch, bleibt haften, gutes Entwicklungspotenzial, ein Ausnahmewein, so gut wie lange nicht."

JAMES SUCKLING: "There are some sappy and leafy elements to the nose with a thread of red berries and fresh blueberries. The palate has plush, lithe and juicy appeal with smoothly rendered tannins and juicy, crunchy acidity. Drink or hold."

DECANTER: "Richly layered, clearly one of the best in this flight, with mouth-watering minerality (for me, that quality always come across as texture not taste). This is an excellent wine, intense in the way that not many are in 2017. Austere but ready to grow, it has bedded down and improved over ageing. An unusual blend because of the frost, but one that they are going to stick to over the long term. Drinking Window 2024 - 2040"

WINE SPECTATOR: "Floral and elegant from the start, with lilac and violet notes streaming forth, followed by cassis, cherry puree and raspberry reduction flavors. A lovely snap of anise and a subtle apple wood accent help to frame the finish, which shows good latent energy. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2022 through 2038. 5,833 cases made."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "You'll find the stony nature in the wine before moving to the lush, ripe, dark red fruits, licorice and espresso notes. Full bodied and lush, this is tasty now and it is going to be more tasty with six to eight years of bottle age."

WEINWISSER: "Sattes Granat. Feingliedriges Bouquet mit Himbeeren und erkaltetem Früchtetee, dahinter rote Grütze. Am mittleren Gaumen mit süssem, sandigem Extrakt und feinkernigen Noten. Im Finale mit feinen, saftigen rotbeerigen Konturen und zarter Adstringenz. Mit Potenzial nach oben."

JEB DUNNUCK: "A blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, raised in 50% new oak, the 2017 Chateau La Gaffeliere is a beautiful effort from this estate that does everything right. Giving up lots of black raspberry and cassis-like fruits as well as plenty of spice and flowery incense, it hits the palate with medium to full body, a rounded, elegant texture, and sweet tannins. It's a beautifully classic, elegant wine from this team that will evolve nicely for over two decades."