Clos La Gaffelière 2020

A Second Wine from Saint-Émilion revealed by La Gaffelière

The estate

Located at the southern entrance to the village of Saint-Émilion, the Premier Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Émilion, Château La Gaffelière, boasts ancient origins. Some mosaics excavated at the site attest to the presence of vines at the estate in the Gallo-Roman period. Owned by the Malet Roquefort family for over three centuries and located in the "golden triangle," between the hills of Châteaux Pavie and Ausone, Château La Gaffelière embodies the excellence of Saint-Emilion fine wines.

The vineyard

The Second Wine of Château La Gaffelière, Clos La Gaffelière is produced from a 25-hectare vineyard planted on clayey slopes and foothills. The vineyard is managed in a sustainable manner.

The vintage

2020 was an early vintage, marked by rapid vine growth throughout the vegetative cycle following a spring that was marked by heavy rain and mild temperatures. This significant rainfall brought about mildew pressure with a rare intensity, complicating work at the vineyard. Nevertheless, flowering took place in an even manner. Although the hot and dry conditions during the summer accelerated the grapes’ ripening process, they also caused a slight loss in yield, notably on certain sandy plots, due to water stress as well as slowing down or even blocking the ripening process on the most clayey soils. Harvests began around a fortnight in advance compared to a “normal“ year.

Winemaking and ageing

Following the harvest, the berries are sorted by density. Plot-based vinification in thermoregulated stainless steel vats. Alcoholic fermentation with pumping over. Malolactic fermentation in vats. Ageing lasts for 12 months in barrels of one previous wine and 25% in new barrels.

Blend

The 2020 Clos La Gaffelière is made from a blend of Merlot (80%) and Cabernet Franc (20%).