Château La Gaffelière 1993

Characteristics and Tasting Tips for Château La Gaffelière 1993

Tasting

Appearance
This red wine reveals a softened ruby core, beautifully highlighted by brick and orange hues at the rim.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet is dominated by tertiary notes. It exudes aromas of undergrowth, dead leaves and mushrooms, harmoniously blended with touches of mellowed red fruit such as dried strawberry and prune. Subtle hints of blond tobacco, fine leather, truffle and sweet spices round off this beautiful complexity.

Palate
The attack is supple, opening onto a fluid, delicate texture. The tannins, now perfectly integrated, offer a velvety feel. Medium-bodied, this wine displays gentle acidity and a harmonious finish marked by lingering tertiary flavours.

Food and Wine Pairings

This wine pairs beautifully with delicate meats such as roast poultry with mushrooms, veal chop with morels or a light hare stew. It is also an excellent match for truffle risotto, as well as for pressed or soft cheeses such as Saint-Nectaire, Comté or Brie.

Serving and Cellaring

This 1993 vintage has reached full maturity and is ready to drink now. It is best served at a temperature of 17–18°C. Very gentle decanting at the time of serving is recommended solely to separate any sediment; vigorous decanting should be avoided, as it could cause the wine to oxidise.

The Classic Elegance of a Great Saint-Émilion Wine

The Estate

Located in the renowned Bordeaux region, Château La Gaffelière has winemaking origins dating back to Gallo-Roman times. However, the estate as we know it today was truly established in 1705, when a marriage united the de Malet Roquefort family with these lands. Today, Count de Malet-Roquefort and his son Alexandre de Malet-Roquefort are at the helm of this illustrious property. This historic grand cru stands out for its remarkable family longevity and its unwavering commitment to producing wines that reflect the full nobility of their terroir.

The Vineyard

The 38-hectare vineyard enjoys a privileged, south-facing location within the "golden triangle" of Saint-Emilion. The vines thrive on a mosaic of soils typical of the appellation, spread across a limestone plateau, clay-limestone slopes and a foot of slope with sandier soils. This geological diversity brings freshness, structure and roundness to the grapes.

The Vintage

The year 1993 was characterised by challenging weather conditions, alternating between periods of moderate heat and cooler spells. The end of the season brought some rain, requiring great vigilance during the harvest to pick healthy berries. These conditions favoured earlier ripening of the Merlot compared with the other grape varieties.

Vinification and Ageing

For this wine, the grapes were harvested by hand to preserve the integrity of the bunches. Vinification was carried out in the traditional manner, followed by careful ageing. The wine was matured in the estate's underground cellar in French oak barrels, refining its structure while respecting the expression of its fruit.

Grape Varieties

This wine is a blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc.