Clos La Gaffelière 2020

A Second Wine from Saint-Émilion signed La Gaffelière

The property

Located at the southern entrance of the village of Saint-Émilion, the Château La Gaffelière, Premier Grand Cru Classé of Saint-Émilion testifies to very ancient origins. Mosaics discovered during excavations have attested to the presence of the vine on the estate since the Gallo-Roman era. 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 the great red wines of Saint-Émilion.

The vineyard

Second Wine of Château La Gaffelière, Clos la Gaffelière comes from a 25-hectare vineyard planted on clay slopes and foothills of Saint-Émilion. The vineyard is managed in a reasoned way.

The vintage

An early vintage, 2020 is marked by rapid vine growth throughout the vegetative cycle, following a spring marked by heavy rain and mild temperatures. This significant rainfall leads to a mildew pressure of rare intensity and complicates the work in the vineyard. However, flowering takes place in a homogeneous manner. If the hot and dry conditions of the summer accelerate the grape maturation process, they cause, especially on some sandy plots, a slight loss of yield due to water stress and a slowdown or even a blockage of maturities on the most clayey terroirs. The harvest begins about fifteen days ahead compared to a so-called "normal" year.

Vinification and aging

Following the harvest, the berries are sorted by density. Parcel vinification in thermo-regulated stainless steel tanks. Alcoholic fermentation with pumping over. Malolactic fermentation in tank. The aging is 12 months in barrels of one wine and 25% in new barrels.

Blend

Clos La Gaffelière 2020 is a blend of merlot (80%) and cabernet franc (20%).