Ch.La Gaffeliere 2009 1500ml

Wine Advocate #199, Dec 23, 2011, by Robert M. Parker, Jr.
An absolutely spectacular effort, the 2009 is one of the all-time great La Gaffelieres produced. One would have to go back to the 2005, 1947 or 1961 to find this level of quality from this ancient, historic vineyard planted adjacent to the walls of St.-Emilion, on the Cote Pavie. Dating back to the 1400s, this estate has been owned for over three centuries by the Malet-Roquefort family. Composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc (in the past it was two-thirds Merlot and the rest split between Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc), the 2009 reveals compelling elegance, tremendous intensity and opulence and more viscosity than one normally sees. Lots of kirsch, licorice, incense, truffle, asphalt, blackberry and cassis notes dominate the aromatics and flavors of this full-bodied, viscous, fabulously pure, flamboyant St.-Emilion.

Chateau La Gaffeliere, previously Chateau Gaffeliere-Naudes, is a Bordeaux wine from the Saint-Emilion appellation, ranked among the Premiers grands crus classe B in the Classification of Saint-Emilion wine. The winery is located west of Chateau Pavie, just south of the town of Saint-Emilion, within the commune of the same name.
Founded on the ruins of a Gallo-Roman villa named "Le Palat", and later a 17th century leper colony, the estate was sharecropping land that came to the ownership of the Comte de Malet-Roquefort. The word "gaffet" translates to leper.
Near the end of the 19th century, the original extensive estate was divided into what became Chateau Canon-la-Gaffeliere, and the area then called Puygenestous-Naudes, renamed Chateau Gaffeliere-Naudes. The name was simplified after 1963. After three centuries, it still belongs to the Malet-Roquefort family.From 25 hectares the vineyard area extends 22 hectares, with a grape variety of 66% Merlot, and the remainder split between Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon.
Chateau La Gaffeliere annually produces on average 10,000 cases of the Grand vin.

Meats, Beef and Venison