| La Gaffelière 2005 • June 2006 | LA GAFFELIÈRE
1st Great Classified Growth
2005 Vintage
History :
Count Malet Roquefort, the owner of Château La Gaffelière, which is located at the entrance to Saint Emilion, was born of a very ancient family, who had settled in Saint Emilion in the 17th century. The vines are grown on one of the most ancient parts of our jurisdiction dating back to the Gallo-Roman era.
The vineyard covers an area of 22 hectares (54.34 acres). The vines have an average age of 35 years and are planted on clay-limestone soil ; half of them stretch over slopes and the other half over the plain. The grape varieties are 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. The yield is no more than 40 hectolitres per hectare.
Vineyard management :
The vineyard is maintained traditionally, combining ploughing the soil in some places and natural grass-growing between the rows in others, according to the plots and exposure. The vines are pruned with the Double Guyot technique to give better exposure to sunshine and ventilation for the bunches. In June, leaf thinning is carried out to enhance the ripening process; and in July, in order to maximise the quality of the crop, the bunches are thinned out. For the harvest, which we do by hand, we delay the picking for as long as possible, taking into account the year’s climatic conditions.
Weather conditions and harvesting :
The 2005 vintage combined a dry early summer heat wave with a month of August that had more reasonable temperatures. After a hot and dry summer, September was warm and sunny but with cool nights. These alternating temperatures enabled the ripening process to advance slowly and in particular to produce rich, aromatic grapes. The outstandingly fine weather conditions in late summer allowed us to delay the picking until September 21 and to extend it until as late as October 5.
Vinification and ageing :
The vinification took place under the supervision of Stéphane Derenoncourt. The wine-making methods are both modern and traditional with a gentle extraction carried out through pumping over and punching down. The malo-lactic fermentation was carried out in new barrels and in stainless steel vats. The wine is being aged in barrels for 14 to 16 months.
Tasting comments :
A dark, purple-violet colour. A well-defined nose, which displays very good ripe fruit. Overall, a good impression of black fruit flavours, such as blackberries and blackcurrants, mingling with hints of violets, mocha and roasted coffee beans. On the palate, a silky texture is supported by a dense and elegant mid-palate. A long, lingering finish with mineral notes coming through.
Contact
Château La Gaffelière – 33330 Saint-Emilion
Tel : +33 (0) 557 247 215 – Fax : +33 (0) 557 246 906
E-mail : chateau-la-gaffeliere@chateau-la-gaffeliere.com
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