2015 Château La Gaffelière Dame de Gaffelière

Community Tasting Notes (8) Avg Score: 90.8 points

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  1/29/2024 - BuckeyeBenS Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Adding a note about the label "Dame" Gaffeliere which I just discovered. Chateau La Gaffeliere uses the "Dame" label for some of their export markets. The actual name of this wine has much more information available - Clos La Gaffeliere. There is a CT record of the 2015 Clos La Gaffeliere label with much more commentary on this wine which is worth reading through if you are using CT notes for either purchase or timing guidance. According the the Gaffeliere website:
  
  "...The blend is usually a large majority of Merlot (up to 90%) and the rest of Cabernet Franc 90% from our clayey foothills, this wine made by the team of Château La Gaffelière, it is vinified and aged with just as much care as the lots making up the first wine. An authentic, pleasure-giving and easy drinking wine. On specific foreign markets, Clos is sold under the label DAME GAFFELIERE..."
  
  Now for the experience (tasted on 1/31/2024). The nose is delightful. Prominent notes of ripe red cherries and a faint whisper of bay leaf which I believe is driven by the 90% merlot base. What makes the nose great, though, are the hints of strawberry and crushed gravel that are likely from the 10% cabernet franc in this St. Emilion blend.
  
  Upon sipping, I set my glass down and clapped. It's great, especially for a second wine. Early reviews influenced me to wait a while on this one, and I'm glad I did. There is nothing out of balance here, the tannins are smooth but still noticeable. Flavors include dark red cherries, very subtle cranberry, and a tiny bit of gravel and damp earth.
  
  For me, it works. I want to share it with friends to validate my opinion here, and then buy more. Yum.

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  12/5/2023 - Orian1701 Likes this wine: 93 Points

  Vis: Deep garnet
  
  Nose: blackberry, cola, black cherry, smoke, oak, hint of barnyard
  
  Palette: blackberry, tobacco, dried fruit, ash, licorice, pepper
  
  Deep and intense with well balanced acidity to brighten the profile. Strong but Well integrated tannins which enhance the flavors but quickly fade to a long lingering black fruit, tobacco and leather finish.
  
  I really enjoy this though the barn nose does make me hesitant initially, I don’t detect any on the palette that is unpleasant. It certainly evokes a terroir.
  
  I actually don’t love this with food. All the layers seems to be suppressed when combating a dish.

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  9/24/2022 - Ianjaig wrote: 88 Points

  Never really opened up unfortunately. Tight and one dimensional.

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  8/2/2022 - Acostaca Likes this wine: 89 Points

  Medium body, dry with pronounced tannins that tend to overpower the fruit. Still, a pleasant wine overall.

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  3/26/2022 - Miguelvino@yahoo.com Likes this wine: 90 Points

  Dark red fruits at nose and palate, tanings present but well integrated, medium finish.

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