2023 La Gaffelière, St-Émilion

One of the stars of the vintage, the 2023 Château La Gaffelière checks in as 60% Merlot and 40% Cabernet Franc resting in 50% new barrels. Cassis, smoked black fruits, graphite, and crushed stone all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a pure, layered, concentrated mouthfeel, plenty of tannins, and a great finish. It has a lot of oak but more than enough fruit and texture. It's serious stuff.

One of the best wines in our first tasting, 2023 La Gaffeliere continued to win the day every time we had the chance to taste, which was at least four times during the week. With red plum, tobacco, and slightly floral aromas, the wine leads to a brilliantly textured palate that is endlessly mouthwatering. It has a long finish that delivers one nuance after another, along with layers of red fruit. So refined yet explosive, it is a wine that I was glad to taste again and again, and it never disappointed. One of the brightest spots of the Right Bank, and once again one of the go-to wines of the vintage for its all-too-reasonable price point.