Saint-Émilion Grand Cru · premier grand cru classé B
Château Canon-la-Gaffelière: vintages available, prices and pairings
The grand vin of Canon-la-Gaffelière, vintage by vintage, with the format, the guide price and what to expect from it today: ready to drink, or for laying down. Tick what interests you, and the quote goes out with your selection.
Vintages on the tariff
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The château
At the foot of the slope, south of the town, on sandy and clay-limestone soils. The von Neipperg family has owned it since 1971; Count Stephan von Neipperg also runs La Mondotte, its neighbour on the plateau.
Mostly Merlot, with a large share of Cabernet Franc and a little Cabernet Sauvignon. Premier grand cru classé B since 2012. A supple, fragrant wine, ready at around eight years, that holds for twenty-five. The appellation's other châteaux are on the Saint-Émilion wines page.
The vineyard covers 19.5 hectares, planted with 50% Merlot, 40% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, with an average vine age of 50 years. It is certified organic. Its very free-draining soils hold the heat: the grapes ripen early there, which lets the Cabernets do well. In 2017, the frost of 27 and 28 April hit 65% of production; yield fell to 16 hl/ha. The 2019, after a very hot July, gives a large share to Cabernet Franc (39%). The 2020 was harvested from 17 to 29 September.
What to serve it with
- A vintage ten years old or more: pigeon, game birds (wine with game).
- A younger vintage: rack of lamb (wine with lamb), magret (wine with duck), roast poultry (wine with poultry).
- With cheese: a brie, a Comté (wine with cheese).
Which vintage for which occasion
For a Christmas Eve dinner, with poultry or game (wine with the Christmas menu). As a gift, a Saint-Émilion premier cru in a wooden case (which wine to give). For a birthday, the year of birth, if the table has it (birth-year vintage).
Is Canon-la-Gaffelière classified?
Yes: Saint-Émilion premier grand cru classé B since 2012, in the 2022 classification. The Saint-Émilion classification is revised roughly every ten years; the 2022 one runs until 2032. A château can move up, move down or withdraw.
Canon-la-Gaffelière, Canon, La Gaffelière: the same château?
No. Three separate Saint-Émilion estates that share place names. Canon-la-Gaffelière belongs to the von Neipperg family; Château Canon and Château La Gaffelière have other owners.
When to drink a Canon-la-Gaffelière?
Allow eight years before opening it and twenty-five years of good form, a little more in a great year, a little less in a weak year or in half bottles. The table applies this rule to each line; it is not a tasting note, and a badly stored bottle ages faster.
Are the prices shown the ones in the quote?
They are the tariff's guide prices, incl. VAT, per bottle of the format, excluding delivery. The quote confirms the price, the availability of each vintage and shipping; the delivery grid gives lead times. For a vintage not in the table, the quote request is still open.