The 2020 La Gaffelière is a Bordeaux Blend from the Saint Emilion sub-region of Bordeaux, France. This red wine, produced by La Gaffelière, has garnered high praise from several professional reviewers. The wine features an alcohol content of 14.0% and is sealed with a traditional cork closure.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate awarded the 2020 La Gaffelière a score of 95, noting its "aromas of plums, sweet berries, licorice, mint and loamy soil." William Kelley described it as "medium to full-bodied, seamless and concentrated, with lively acids and vibrant fruit flavors." Kelley also highlighted the presence of "powdery, fine-grained tannins" and remarked on the estate's awakening status in Saint-Émilion.
Decanter also rated the wine 95, describing it as "perfumed, delicate, generous and evocative." The review emphasized the wine's "really bright energy and dynamism" with vibrant fruit qualities such as "herbal-tinged raspberries, blackcurrants and plums." The wine was noted for its "chalky, creamy and salty" texture, suggesting it has both classic elements and touches of the hot vintage.
James Suckling gave the wine a stellar 97, praising its "deep and intense notes of plums and blackberries" complemented by "dark chocolate, toasted spices, walnut, crushed graphite and wet stones." He described it as "full-bodied with layers of ripe, velvety tannins" and noted its "very structured" nature with a "really long finish."
Wine Enthusiast's Roger Voss awarded the wine a 96, highlighting the "ripe tannins and fine perfumes" from the 40% Cabernet Franc in the blend. Voss remarked on its powerful structure, masked by "generous black fruits," and suggested the wine has great potential.
Wine Spectator also gave a score of 95, describing the wine as a "winner in this heat-influenced vintage," with "remarkable purity and focus." The review noted flavors of "cassis, cherry paste and violet" with a "subtle chalky minerality" and a "broad stroke of mouthwatering tobacco on the finish."
Jane Anson rated the wine 95, emphasizing the "limestone dominance" and flavors of "saffron, oyster shell, blueberry and raspberry fruit." Anson highlighted the "sleek, silky and excellent quality" of the wine, mentioning it was the first vintage without the Grand Cru Classé on the label.
Vinous awarded the wine an impressive 98, with Antonio Galloni describing it as "superb, rich, dense and explosive." Galloni praised its "black cherry, gravel, licorice, grilled herbs and menthol" notes, calling it "nothing short of thrilling."
Jeb Dunnuck rated the wine 94, noting its "60/40 split of Merlot and Cabernet Franc" and its "pure, elegant, seamless" nature. Dunnuck mentioned its "cassis and darker raspberry-like fruits" and "solid complexity" in its notes of "graphite, sandalwood, and Asian spices."
In summary, the 2020 La Gaffelière is a highly acclaimed Bordeaux Blend, praised for its vibrant fruit flavors, fine-grained tannins, and excellent structure. It has received high scores from multiple reviewers, with James Suckling and Vinous giving particularly high praise. This wine promises great aging potential and complexity, making it a standout in its vintage.