2005 Chateau La Gaffeliere, Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, Case of 12 btls

LP97 "The 2005 La Gaffeliere is composed of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-brick in color, it explodes with bombastic black and blue fruit preserves, giving way to notions of pencil lead, unsmoked cigars, and bay leaves, with a hint of smoked meats. In the mouth, it is an absolute monster of a wine - full-bodied, intense, and jam-packed with black fruit preserves, nicely framed by very firm, grainy tannins, finishing decadently and with epic length. Delicious now, it should easily hold for another 20-25 years. Over one-third of the La Gaffeliere vineyard is located on the limestone plateau, near Ausone and what used to be Belair (now Belair-Monange). Most of the rest of the holdings are on the lower-lying area opposite Pavie." LPB for TWI Jul 2022
RP96 "The finest La Gaffeliere I have ever tasted, the prodigious 2005 boasts a dense ruby/purple color in addition to a flamboyant bouquet of lead pencil shavings, creme de cassis, blackberries, smoked meats, incense, and Asian spice. Fabulously deep and full-bodied as well as ethereal and exceptionally elegant for its explosive richness and intensity, its lightness of being reflects the vineyard’s sensational terroir. This succulent beauty appears to be approachable, but that belies some significant tannins." RP Apr 2008

AG95 "The 2005 La Gaffelière is a dense, packed Saint-Émilion with huge fruit and equally searing tannins. Red cherry, blood orange, spice, star anise and mint all open gradually in the glass. The tannins never soften though, leading me to think this needs at least a few more years in bottle. Even that may not be enough. This might be the sort of wine that is only truly pleasurable at full maturity, that won't happen for a while. Even so, behind all that tannin lies a deeply fascinating and complex Saint-Émilion." AG for VM Apr 2021