La Gaffelière (Ex-Château) 2001 75cl

Over the past decade, the quality at this estate has climbed dramatically. The unbroken presence of the Malet Roqueforts at Château La Gaffelière since 1705 makes them the oldest winegrowing family in Saint-Émilion. Located in the heart of the appellation, the 22-hectare vineyard lies on some of the greatest sloped sandy-clay and limestone terroirs. The land is planted to more than three-fourths Merlot with the remaining planted to Cabernet Franc. Today, the property is looked after by the attentive Count Léo de Malet Roquefort and the wines are consistently improving, displaying more of the château’s true potential year after year. Like a classically structured Saint-Émilion, La Gaffelière wines are sophisticated, medium- rather than full-bodied with a mineralistic undertone that is spotted with subtle hints of dark fruits and smokiness. The estate produces two wines, the Château La Gaffelière as their Grand Vin, which after ten years’ cellaring greatly develops, as well as their second wine, the Clos La Gaffelière.