Chateau La Gaffeliere St. Emilion Bordeaux Wine

Chateau La Gaffeliere St. Emilion, Premier Grand Cru Classe B, Bordeaux wine producer profile, with wine tasting notes, wine ratings, a history of the property, information on wine making and terroir, along with wine tasting reviews. If you want to read about other important, Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles

Chateau La Gaffelière has the unique distinction of being one of the oldest, family owned vineyards in the St. Emilion appellation of Bordeaux. The family can trace their roots in the Right Bank all the way back to the 1400′s!

The fifteenth century Bordeaux chateau of La Gaffeliere might not have always been a winery. In fact, the chateau could of been used for a completely different purpose. It is possible that the chateau might have been a gaffelière. A gaffelière is ancient French for leper colony.

While parts of the estate date back to the 11th century, the beginnings of La Gaffeliere start with arrival of the Comte de Malet-Roquefort in the 17th century. By the 18th century, La Gaffeliere had earned a reputation for producing high quality, St. Emilion wine. At some point in time, the vineyard was split with some of the land shifting to what became Canon La Gaffeliere, located just down the road.

Chateau La Gaffeliere

The Malet-Roquefort family maintained control of Chateau La Gaffeliere, or to be more accurate, for a period of time, the estate was known as La Gaffeliere Naudes. Until 1961, the wines of La Gaffeliere Naudes were outstanding. For consumers seeking older Bordeaux, they can often be found at low prices in the marketplace. La Gaffeliere during the 1980′s were moderate at best. It was not their best period, even though at some point during that decade, that is where a young Alexandre Thienpont learned his trade. Alexandre is better known for the chateau he owns in Pomerol, Vieux Chateau Certan. After 1961 the quality of the wines being produced at this Right Bank estate slipped and did not fully recover until Stephane Derencourt teamed with the Malet-Roquefort family.

The 18 hectare St. Emilion vineyard of Chateau La Gaffeliere has a terroir of clay, limestone, chalk and sandy soils. The vineyard of Chateau La Gaffeliere is planted to 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc. The vines are old at an average age of 40 years. The vineyard is planted to a vine density of 6,000 vines per hectare.

To produce the wine of Chateau La Gaffeliere, vinification of the wine takes place in temperature controlled, stainless steel tanks. Malolactic takes place in barrel. The wine of Chateau La Gaffeliere is aged in an average of 70% to 80% new, French oak barrels, where the wine remains on its lees for about 12 months. In total, the wine spends between 18 to 20 months in barrel, depending on the character and quality of the vintage. On average, slightly more than 4,000 cases of Chateau La Gaffeliere are produced every vintage. There is a second wine, Clos La Gaffeliere.

www.chateau-la-gaffeliere.com