Château La Gaffelière 2022 is a Saint-Émilion Grand Cru red from vineyards on the slopes south of the village, between the Pavie and Ausone sectors. Although the estate historically held Premier Grand Cru Classé B status, it withdrew from the Saint-Émilion classification in June 2022, a move noted by The Wine Cellar Insider. The grand vin is a 60% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc blend, and several sources report that it includes 10% whole-bunch fermentation, a detail that helps explain the wine’s aromatic lift and structural bite.

Critical reception for the 2022 is notably strong, with multiple reviewers placing it among the estate’s best modern releases. Jeb Dunnuck delivers one of the vintage’s standout verdicts at 99 points, calling it “le plus grand millésime de cette cuvée que j’ai goûté” (via Millésima). Antonio Galloni (Vinous) also awards 99 points (via Millésima), reinforcing the sense that this is a top-tier year for the property. William Kelley (Wine Advocate), writing from barrel, goes further on relative quality, describing it as “the finest wine produced at this address in many a year, surpassing the 2019 and 2020 in quality” (95–96 points).

Style-wise, Vinous notes a wine that is “supremely elegant and perfumed,” citing blood orange, pomegranate, spice, white pepper, and dried herbs, while also observing that it has “closed down considerably post-bottling.” Wine Spectator’s James Molesworth (96 points) emphasizes darker fruit and minerality—“boysenberry and blackberry purée” along with violet, iris, ink, and graphite—and suggests a long runway, with a drinking window of 2026 to 2042 (via Millésima). Production is reported at roughly 8,000 cases, with 300 imported (Wine Spectator via Millésima). Decanter lists the alcohol at 15.10%, underlining the vintage’s ripeness.