Château Canon-la-Gaffelière

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Coordinates: 44°52′52″N 0°09′39″W / 44.88117°N 0.16085°W / 44.88117; -0.16085

Château Canon-la-Gaffelière is a Bordeaux wine from the appellation Saint-Émilion, ranked Premier Grand cru classé in the Classification of Saint-Émilion wine. The winery is located in the Right Bank of France's Bordeaux wine region in the commune of Saint-Émilion, in the department Gironde.

The estate also produces the second wine Côte Mignon La Gaffelière, and is closely involved with the production of the "Vin de garage" La Mondotte.

History[]

Although an old property with viticultural history dating back to the 17th century when the Comte de Malets-Roqueforts bought extensive real-estate, including the site of a leper colony, and rented out large parts to sharecroppers.[1] This vineyard came to prominence when Boitard de la Poterie family bought and cultivated what became known as Canon-Boitard, while the remaining land retained by the Malets-Roqueforts would become Château La Gaffelière.[2] Both the estates apply the word gaffet, which translates to leper.[1]

In 1971 the estate was bought by count Joseph-Hubert von Neipperg, and in 1985 passed control to his son count Stephan von Neipperg, the current proprietor. Accredited with much of the success of the estate,[2] his other properties include Clos de l'Oratoire and the "super-cuvée" La Mondotte.[1]

Having once been an exponent of modern techniques in winemaking, including microoxygenation,[3] von Neipperg has become critical of his own earlier vintages. Since the early 2000s he has reverted Canon-la-Gaffelière to a style of moderation aiming at a truer expression of wine, and is quoted saying "I don't make plum pudding".[4]

The estate's consultant is the self-taught oenologist Stéphane Derenoncourt.[5]

Production[]

The vineyard area extends 19.5 hectares with the grape varieties of 55% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon.

Of the Grand vin, Château Canon-la-Gaffelière there is a total annual production of 7,500 cases, in addition to the production of the second wine, Côte Mignon La Gaffelière.[1]

La Mondotte[]

From a small plot of limestone near Château Pavie-Macquin, originally purchased by Joseph-Hubert von Neipperg in 1971 when it was named Château La Mondotte, the terroir initially produced crops that struggled to ripen and did not meet expectations.[6] Using the most modern techniques, the word "château" was omitted to emphasise a new start, and that the little house on the property is hardly a château,[6] La Mondotte was launched with the 1996 vintage. With its extreme characteristics, it is alternately referred to as a "super-cuvée" or a "garage wine", and has become one of the most expensive wines of Bordeaux.[7]

From a vineyard area of 4.5 hectares composed of 80% Merlot and 20% Cabernet Franc, the estate has an annual production of 650 to 1,000 cases a year.[6] As well as Canon la Gaffelière, La Mondotte has also been promoted a Premier Grand cru classé estate with the Saint-Émilion reclassification in 2012.

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d Kissack, Chris, thewinedoctor.com. "Chateau Canon-la-Gaffelière".
  2. ^ a b Peppercorn, David (2003). Bordeaux. London: Mitchell Beazley. pp. 404–405. ISBN 1-84000-927-6.
  3. ^ winepros.com.au. Oxford Companion to Wine. "micro-oxygenation". Archived from the original on 9 August 2008.
  4. ^ Robinson, Jancis, jancisrobinson.com (13 April 2002). "St Emilion winemakers recant on extremism".
  5. ^ Robinson, Jancis, jancisrobinson.com (8 May 2004). "Derenoncourt - the new Michel Rolland?".
  6. ^ a b c Schoenfeld, Bruce, Wine Spectator (22 February 2006). "Armed With Charm". Archived from the original on 18 April 2009. Retrieved 4 March 2008.
  7. ^ Robinson, Jancis, jancisrobinson.com (8 May 2004). "Derenoncourt - the new Michel Rolland?".

External links[]

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