Château La Gaffelière

The land that comprises Château La Gaffelière has been inhabited and cultivated since the Roman period, placing it among the most historically layered properties in all of Bordeaux. During the medieval era, the site housed a leper colony, and the estate's name traces directly to this past: 'gaffet' is the old French term for a leper's cane or staff. The property became established as a winery under the Malet-Roquefort family in the 17th century, and the family has maintained continuous ownership since 1705, an extraordinary span of over three centuries. The estate was historically known as La Gaffelière-Naudes before being renamed to its current form.

• Roman-period viticulture on the site predates the modern estate
• Medieval leper colony gives the property its distinctive name
• Malet-Roquefort family ownership unbroken since 1705
• Formerly labeled as Château Gaffelière-Naudes

La Gaffelière occupies 22 hectares of classified vineyard on the southern-facing slopes of the Saint-Émilion côte, directly below the plateau where Ausone sits. The soils shift across the site in a way that gives the winemaking team considerable textural and structural range to work with. The upper portions feature clay-limestone plateau and slope soils that provide structure and minerality, while the foot of the slope transitions to more siliceous, sandier ground that softens the wine's mid-palate. This diversity of soil types, combined with the south-facing aspect and the continental climate of the Right Bank, creates conditions well-suited to both Merlot and Cabernet Franc.

• South-facing aspect on the Saint-Émilion côte below Ausone
• Clay-limestone soils on the plateau and slopes deliver structure and minerality
• Siliceous pied de côte soils contribute texture and roundness
• Continental climate, warmer than the Médoc, favors Merlot ripening

The blend at La Gaffelière is anchored by Merlot at 70%, with Cabernet Franc making up the remaining 30%. This proportion reflects both the terroir and a deliberate stylistic choice; Cabernet Franc on clay-limestone in Saint-Émilion contributes aromatic complexity, floral lift, and structural backbone that complements Merlot's natural richness. The house style is elegant rather than opulent, built on silky tannins and a mineral thread that runs through the wine. When consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt joined the team in 2004, the estate entered a period of focused refinement, improving precision in the vineyard and cellar and sharpening the wine's overall quality and consistency.

• 70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc across the classified vineyard
• Derenoncourt's influence from 2004 onward prioritized precision and terroir expression
• Style is medium to full-bodied with silky tannins and mineral character
• Wines show genuine aging potential, rewarding mid to long-term cellaring

La Gaffelière was included in the original 1955 Saint-Émilion classification as a Premier Grand Cru Classé B, a status it held through successive revisions until 2021. In 2022, the estate made the significant decision to withdraw entirely from the Saint-Émilion classification system, a move shared by several other high-profile properties dissatisfied with the revision process. The estate now produces wine under the Saint-Émilion Grand Cru appellation. This withdrawal does not diminish the property's historical standing or the quality of the wine, but it is an important fact for exam candidates and trade professionals to note when discussing the current classification landscape of Saint-Émilion.