2018 Chateau La Gaffeliere Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Bordeaux 750 ml

Capped with a scorching 99-point review from Vinous, Château la Gaffelière’s magnificently silky 2018 keeps company with the most legendary—and expensive—wines on the Right Bank.

Antonio Galloni of Vinous described it as “Magnifique” and “hands down one of the wines of the vintage.” It’s a bombshell mix of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, crafted by star consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt. Seductive, full aromas of plum, red currant, and blackberry spill over the rim of the glass, accompanied by ripe, fleshy tannins on the palate and a sensational finish sprinkled with exotic spices.

Chateau la Gaffeliere’s 54-acre vineyard lies on what is known as the “golden triangle” of Saint-Émilion, a brilliant patch of clay-limestone terroir lying in the hills between two Premier Grand Cru Classé A icons, Château Ausone and Château Pavie.

The first half of the 2018 season brought significant rainfall through spring, spurring vigilant vineyard management. However, from mid-July on, conditions shifted dramatically to hot, dry weather that extended through harvest. This late-season warmth proved particularly beneficial for the Merlot-dominated Right Bank, allowing for optimal ripening of the grapes. 

This vintage of Gaffelière includes a generous percentage of Cabernet Franc (42%), reflecting newer plantings dedicated to that grape, to add structure to the blend. After successful experiments in the early 2010s, the estate now uses whole-cluster fermentation for 10% of the Cabernet Franc, extracting even bigger aromas from the voluptuous Right Bank fruit and lending a plush quality to the tannins.   

Cloaked in a velvety veneer of 50% new French oak, this is one for the ages—over 300 years of pedigree for a value you won’t find anywhere else in this elite category.