Château Canon-la-Gaffelière
Château Canon-la-Gaffelière is a Bordeaux wine from the appellation Saint-Émilion, ranked 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.
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[edit] 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 share-croppers.[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 Joseph-Hubert, Graf von Neipperg, and in 1985 passed control to his son Comte 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]
[edit] 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]
[edit] 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.[4]
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]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d Kissack, Chris, thewinedoctor.com. "Chateau Canon-la-Gaffelière". http://www.thewinedoctor.com/bordeaux/canonlagaffeliere.shtml.
- ^ a b Peppercorn, David (2003). Bordeaux. London: Mitchell Beazley. pp. 404–405. ISBN 1-84000-927-6.
- ^ winepros.com.au. Oxford Companion to Wine. "micro-oxygenation". http://www.winepros.com.au/jsp/cda/reference/oxford_entry.jsp?entry_id=2011.
- ^ a b Robinson, Jancis, jancisrobinson.com (2002-04-13). "St Emilion winemakers recant on extremism". http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/jr802.
- ^ Robinson, Jancis, jancisrobinson.com (2004-05-08). "Derenoncourt - the new Michel Rolland?". http://www.jancisrobinson.com/articles/winenews0508.
- ^ a b c Schoenfeld, Bruce, Wine Spectator (2006-02-22). "Armed With Charm". http://www.winespectator.com/Wine/Features/0,1197,3133,00.html.
[edit] External links
- Château Canon-la-Gaffelière official site (French) (English) (German)
