
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.
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.
James Suckling 96-97: A deep and layered young red with blackberry, black olive and white pepper character with a full body and savory fruit. White pepper and other spices. Depth with elegance. Extremely well crafted. A blend of 45% cabernet franc, 40% merlot and 15% cabernet sauvignon.
Vinous 94-96: The 2025 Canon La Gaffelière is bright and beautifully focused right out of the gate. Orange peel, sage, mint, pipe tobacco, dried flowers and mocha soar out of the glass. Floral aromatics and brisk saline notes are the signatures in a tightly wound Canon La Gaffelière that is going to need a number of years to be at its most expressive. I especially admire the energy here.