Château Canon-la-Gaffelière
Château Canon-la-Gaffelière, picturesquely situated on the slopes of Saint-Émilion, covers about 20 hectares.The appellation Saint-Émilion covers exactly the same area as described in the original act of 1289: nine communes, including the medieval town of Saint-Émilion. In 1999, the entire area was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Past
In the 17th century, the de Malet Roquefort family bought the estate, including the then leper colony (to which the name gaffelière refers), later an inn, and built a castle. The family also owns the estate next door, Château la Gaffelière. However, habitation of the sites is much older, as evidenced by ancient mosaics discovered in 1969.
The de Malet Roquefort family leased most of the land, after which a long period of frequent changes of ownership of the estate began.
Present
In 1971, Joseph-Hubert, Graf von Neipperg, bought Château Canon-la-Gaffelière, among others, to expand his wine portfolio. Under the leadership of his son Stephan, using the expertise of Stéphane Derenoncourt, the chateau grows from 1982 into the wine gem it is today.
Stephan wants to revitalise the vineyard because he recognises the quality. He starts using organic methods, plants new vines and renovates the buildings. Interestingly, he does not buy already grafted vines; the chateau does the grafting itself. Also notable is the use of horses and robotic mowers instead of tractors to protect soil life. In the vats, grapes are crushed by their own weight during fermentation. In 2014, the estate acquired official organic certification.
Success rarely comes easy, but the efforts lead to.him producing a wine he is finally happy with in 1988. And not only him: in the following years, Château Canon-la-Gaffelière steadily grows in popularity.
At auction
One of the chateau's finest vintages, the 2008 vintage, can be found at the upcoming December auction:
From Château Canon-la-Gaffelière, you can find the wine in several lots and the large-formats in lots 417 - 425. You can find the 2008 vintage in a special 6-litre format. This also applies to the 1988 first vintage. You can also find a rare Melchior (18 litres) of the 2001 vintage, lot 425.
Other large formats (from 3 litres upwards) made by the same von Neipperg family:
Past
In the 17th century, the de Malet Roquefort family bought the estate, including the then leper colony (to which the name gaffelière refers), later an inn, and built a castle. The family also owns the estate next door, Château la Gaffelière. However, habitation of the sites is much older, as evidenced by ancient mosaics discovered in 1969.
The de Malet Roquefort family leased most of the land, after which a long period of frequent changes of ownership of the estate began.
Present
In 1971, Joseph-Hubert, Graf von Neipperg, bought Château Canon-la-Gaffelière, among others, to expand his wine portfolio. Under the leadership of his son Stephan, using the expertise of Stéphane Derenoncourt, the chateau grows from 1982 into the wine gem it is today.
Stephan wants to revitalise the vineyard because he recognises the quality. He starts using organic methods, plants new vines and renovates the buildings. Interestingly, he does not buy already grafted vines; the chateau does the grafting itself. Also notable is the use of horses and robotic mowers instead of tractors to protect soil life. In the vats, grapes are crushed by their own weight during fermentation. In 2014, the estate acquired official organic certification.
Success rarely comes easy, but the efforts lead to.him producing a wine he is finally happy with in 1988. And not only him: in the following years, Château Canon-la-Gaffelière steadily grows in popularity.
At auction
One of the chateau's finest vintages, the 2008 vintage, can be found at the upcoming December auction:
“The nose is elegant and offers a beautiful gourmandise, richness as well as a beautiful finesse. It reveals notes of fleshy strawberry, blackberry associated with fine touches of caramelization, incense and small notes of ripe raspberry, spices, small toasted notes as well as a very discreet hint of violet and an imperceptible hint of Sichuan pepper. The palate is fresh, well-balanced, fruity and offers a beautiful definition, a beautiful suavity as well as a beautiful finesse of the grain.” – VertdeVin, 96/100
From Château Canon-la-Gaffelière, you can find the wine in several lots and the large-formats in lots 417 - 425. You can find the 2008 vintage in a special 6-litre format. This also applies to the 1988 first vintage. You can also find a rare Melchior (18 litres) of the 2001 vintage, lot 425.
Other large formats (from 3 litres upwards) made by the same von Neipperg family:
- Clos de l'Oratoire in lots 426 - 434
- Château la Mondotte in lots 435 - 441