Canon-La Gaffelière St-Emilion 2005

97 points Lisa Perrtotti-Brown (The Wine Palate): "The 2005 La Gaffeliere is composed of 80% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 10% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-brick in color, it explodes with bombastic black and blue fruit preserves, giving way to notions of pencil lead, unsmoked cigars, and bay leaves, with a hint of smoked meats. In the mouth, it is an absolute monster of a wine - full-bodied, intense, and jam-packed with black fruit preserves, nicely framed by very firm, grainy tannins, finishing decadently and with epic length. Delicious now, it should easily hold for another 10-15 years. Drink: 2022-2047. (Jun 2025)"

97 points Bettane & Desseauve's Guide to the Wines of France: "Hugely powerful, tight tannins, similar texture, very young, but with a fresh finish that is immediately recognizable as cabernet franc. Much more masculine than usual, this wine has a great future. Drink: 2013 up to 2030. (2011)"

97 points (18.5/20) La Revue du Vin de France: "The 2005 vintage, medium-bodied, reveals great finesse. (Jan 2007)"

95 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "Full-bodied, fresh, elegant, and also lush, the wine is packed with flowers, licorice, smoke, cherries, herbs, and plums. There is a bit of a firm edge to the tannins, but the wealth of ripe fruits overcomes its firm edge. Drink from 2022-2035. (Nov 2022)"

94 points Jeb Dunnuck: "The 2005 Château Canon-La-Gaffelière brings a touch more richness and depth compared to the Clos De L'Oratoire, offering red and black fruits, leather, chalky minerality, and hints of rose petal. It's medium to full-bodied, has ripe yet firm tannins, beautiful balance, and outstanding length. It's still young but certainly offers pleasure. I suspect the tannins will continue rounding into form over the coming 10-15 years Drink: 2024-2039. (4/6/24)"

94 points Wine Spectator: "The mix of loganberry, black currant and black cherry fruit has begun to shift into a secondary phase here, but there is still ample vibrancy, with a racy mineral streak and lively anise, apple wood and floral notes. The long, refined finish is still a touch tight. On the verge of hitting its stride. -Blind '01/'03/'05 Bordeaux retrospective (December 2017). Best from 2020 through 2035. (7/31/18)"

94 points Robert Parker: "This fragrant, lush, seductive wine offers up plum, Christmas spices and crème de cassis. This dense garnet/purple wine also has loads of blackcurrant and black cherry fruit, terrific aromatics, a full-bodied mouthfeel, beautiful purity, texture, and a long, long finish. Once again, the Comte von Neipperg and his winemaking consultant Stéphane Derenoncourt have hit a home run in this vintage. This beauty is approachable, if not drinkable already, and should continue to evolve for 10-15 years. (Jun 2015)"

'St-Emilion: the best of the best,' Decanter: "2010 & 2005: Both wines are pure, complex, full-bodied and very elegant in both vintages, showing good acidity and an outstanding length. Canon La Gaffelière is very spicy and elegant, thanks to its high percentage of Cabernet Franc (40% in the estate), whereas La Mondotte is all about power combined with mienrality. The wines are highly structured but retain plenty of acidity. They are built for the future. (Jun 2014)"