Canon La Gaffeliere

1999

Wine Advocate 92: Canon La Gaffeliere's opaque purple-colored 1999 is a strong effort for this vintage. It displays a sweet nose of pain grille, smoke, meats, graphite, blackberry, and cassis liqueur. The wine is full-bodied, deep, powerful, and rich, with sweet tannin and low acidity. This is a blockbuster effort for a delicate vintage such as 1999. Anticipated maturity: 2003-2016.

2020

Wine Advocate 95: A blend of 50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2020 Canon la Gaffelière offers up inviting aromas of dark berries, plums, burning embers, rose petals, incense and bay leaf. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, it's suave and perfumed, with melting, powdery tannins and a vibrant core of fruit. As ever, the elevated percentage of Cabernet Franc lends it a singular and compelling style.

James Suckling 95: Such clarity to this with redcurrants, stems, fresh herbs, blackcurrants, and cherries on the nose. Medium to full body. Very tight, fine tannins. It builds nicely and has excellent length. Class and reality here. Needs three to five years.