Wine Advisor
Canon La Gaffeliere 2004
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
Tasted at Chateau Branaire-Ducru. As the Chateau Canon-la Gaffeliere ages, the nose seems to ease off the pressure, still ripe with those bubbling raspberry and cassis fruit, but just a little more subdued than previous encounters. The palate is more expressive than the nose with macerated black cherries, hints of black pepper, cigar box and a sous-bois element that appears to be developing on the finish. It has a certain “compactness” at the moment, but I think it will broaden out with bottle age. Drink 2012-2022. Tasted April 2009.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The nose on this Canon-la-Gaffliere is certainly very ripe, though not as over-extracted as it tasted in its youth. Black cherries, raspberry and cassis, perhaps just lacking a little definition. The palate is full-bodied and very ripe with macerated black cherries and cassis with a hint of cigar box towards the finish. Compared to its precocious youth it seems better balanced, although it still just lacks some personality. Drink 2010-2016. Tasted November 2008.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
A very ripe cassis and blueberry nose that seems over-extracted to me. The palate has a nice balance and good weight. Lacks some complexity, with ripe black cherry and cassis fruit. More acidity might be welcome. Fine, though I expected more. Tasted April 2005.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
Superior to the 2003, the 2004 exhibits notes of pain grille, blackberries, cassis, dried herbs, and cedar. Fleshy, medium to full-bodied, textured, and opulently-styled with good structure, purity, and surprising ripeness and plumpness, it will provide pleasure during its first 12-15 years of life.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A seductive, easy-going effort from proprietor Stephan von Neipperg, this deep ruby/purple-tinged 2004 offers soft notes of sweet cherry and currant fruit intermixed with dried herbs, espresso roast, and loamy soil. Sweet tannin, medium body, and a seductive, up-front style result in a hedonistic, alluring St.-Emilion to enjoy during its first dozen years of life.
Reviewed by: Robert M. Parker, Jr.
A brilliant achievement for proprietor Stefan von Neipperg, this blend of 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon exhibits an exuberant, cedary bouquet revealing scents of espresso roast, chocolate, pain grille, and sweet red and black fruits. Opulent and fleshy for a 2004, this sexy beauty offers plenty of purity, symmetry, and sweet tannin. It will provide enjoyment over the next 10-15 years.
About the Producer
Château Canon La Gaffelière is a well-regarded Premier Grand Cru Classé wine estate in the Saint-Émilion region of northeastern Bordeaux. The château is known for the elegance and finesse of its wines as much as it is for its owner: Count Stephan von Neipperg. The estate and château lies just south of Saint-Émilion town and was promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé 2012. Canon La Gaffelière's 19.5-hectare (48-acre) vineyard is a mix of clay-limestone and clay-sand soils, with predominantly sandy topsoils. These characteristics are well-suited to the grape varieties planted here with the vineyards composed of 55 percent Merlot, 40 percent Cabernet Franc and 5 percent Cabernet Sauvignon. At harvest, the grapes are hand-harvested and destemmed without crushing, then fermented in temperature-controlled wooden vats. They are then aged in mostly new oak barrels for up to 20 months. The Canon La Gaffelière estate began as two separate holdings in the 19th Century: Canon Boitard and La Gaffelière Boitard. They were eventually combined, and then acquired by the Von Neipperg family in 1971. Current proprietor Count Stephan von Neipperg also owns La Mondotte, Clos de L'Oratoire and Château Peyreau in Saint-Émilion, plus a handful of other estates around Bordeaux.
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