Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere 2005

"Very intense and powerful, with blackberry and chocolate aromas. Full-bodied, with fabulous velvety tannins and a long, long finish. This coats every inch of the palate. Gorgeous and stylish. Best after 2017. 5,750 cases made. "

95 Points

Wine Spectator

"For opulence, decadence, and sexiness, this 2005 is hard to resist. One of the vintage’s most flamboyant efforts, it is a gorgeous blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon. With a stunningly exotic nose of espresso roast, a juicy meat and herb concoction, spice box, chocolate, incense, and copious quantities of sweet, ripe black cherry and blackberry fruit, this full-throttle St.-Emilion exhibits good structure (because of the vintage’s sound acid levels) and high, but velvety tannin. It is a brilliant effort from proprietor Stephan von Neipperg. I would not discount its aging potential as the 1990, which I thought would have a short aging curve, is still going strong at age 18. The 2005 should easily last 20-25 years. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2030."

94 Points

The Wine Advocate

"A successful wine from Canon la Gaffelière. It is in a modern style with very polished edges of fruit, but the heart of the wine has a core of solid, dark, dry tannins. The wood gives spiciness, but it is the black, juicy fruits that impress."

94 Points

Wine Enthusiast

"Bright, full ruby-red. Knockout nose offers black raspberry, coffee, minerals, flowers, tobacco and nutty oak. Densely packed and vibrant, with terrific energy to its tightly coiled flavors of dark fruits and minerals. Here, too, the quality of the cabernet franc is high. Finishes strong and very long, with an explosion of dark fruits and flowers. An outstanding vintage for this property. 93-94"

94 Points

International Wine Cellar

"Closed off behind the flash of new oak and the earthiness of its tannins, this takes several days to emerge. When it does, there's plump, juicy merlot fruit to match the earthiness. And though it has the headiness of the vintage, it also has a cool restraint. Check on this in ten years; it should live long and well. "

92 Points

Wine & Spirits

"Very much smelling of the ripe cherries, plums and herbs of good Merlot, this weighty wine is at once is a touch soft in structure but fights with dry tannins as it crosses the palate. It is a little less lively than some and thus one that comes with caveats about just where it will go with the eight to ten years of age that its astringency commends."

90 Points

Connoisseurs' Guide