| Region of Production: | Saint-Émilion AOP |
| Winery Location: | Saint-Émilion |
| Year Established: | 17th century |
| Classification: | Premier Grand Cru Classé B |
Vineyard Holdings
23 ha
- 80% Merlot
- 20% Cabernet Franc
Top Wines Produced & Inaugural Vintages
- Château La Gaffelière, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru: Grand vin. 70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc (2015 vintage). Fermented in upside-down conical stainless steel tanks. Aged for 14 to 16 months in 50% new barrels.
- Clos La Gaffelière, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru: Second wine. Harvested from younger vines. Aged for 10 to 12 months in one-year-old barrels. Inaugural vintage 1985.
Average Total Production
- 80,000 bottles
Summary
Archaeological evidence suggests that the ancient Romans once cultivated vines on the land that now houses Château La Gaffelière. Millennia later, that land and the château built there may have been utilized as a leper colony – Gaffelière deriving from gaffet, meaning “leper.” The estate’s modern history, however, is intertwined with that of the Malet Roquefort family, who trace their heritage in the Right Bank back to the 15th century and their occupation of La Gaffelière to the 17th century. La Gaffelière developed a reputation for producing fine wine in the 1700s, and around that time, broke with what is now Canon La Gaffelière. Until 1961, the Malet Roquefort family labeled their wine “La Gaffelière Naudes.” The estate is considered to have entered a period of mediocrity by the mid-20th century, but current owner Comte Léo de Malet Roquefort and his son Alexandre have made strides to restore its reputation. Stéphane Derenoncourt joined as a consultant in 2004.
Style & Vinification Techniques
Gaffelière offers a sturdy Saint-Émilion that in top vintages requires cellaring. A new winery facility was completed in 2013, equipped with optical sorting and custom-made stainless steel tanks shaped like an inverted cone and tinted purple. The grapes, always destemmed, are vinified by plot, and malolactic fermentation is carried out in both tank and barrel. The wines are aged for 14 to 16 months in 50% new oak barrels.
Producer Website: Château La Gaffelière