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Wine Description
The Story
A new approach starting in 1985
Stephan von Neipperg totally redefined viticulture and winemaking at Canon La Gaffelière, succeeding in reflecting the very best of what the estate has to offer. The present richness and concentration of its wines place Canon La Gaffelière among the top crus classés of Saint Emilion - which was exactly its position in the 1940s.
For quite some time, this siliceous terroir suffered from a fairly mediocre image.
However, clay and sand soil is by no means bad! Everything depends on how you grow the grapes. A common error is to over-fertilise such well-filtered soil. In the early 60s, the use of chemical fertilisers was widespread, largely with a view to increasing production. The prevalent winemaking philosophy at the time found this perfectly acceptable.
Unfortunately, though, wines from this period were lacking in structure. In addition, excess nitrogen created a serious, long-lasting imbalance in the relationship between the vines and the soil. Firmly packed, and deprived of oxygen and micro-organisms, the soil lacked the necessary health and dynamism for deep rooting and quality wine production. This explains why Canon La Gaffelière was so lacklustre after 1964. The wines were weak and lacked complexity.
Vintage 1955
In Bordeaux, 1955 began with unstable weather conditions just before summer, but turned into an extremely favorable season by the end of the year. A glorious, sunny and warm, if not hot, period prevailed throughout August and September, until the right amount of much-needed rain arrived. The harvest turned out to be of the highest quality. However, because the vintage was overshadowed by the 1953, it offers value-for-money wines that can still be enjoyed today. Ripe grapes and autumn rains guaranteed an excellent year for Sauternes wines. Wines from this vintage vary greatly in quality, and many are dominated by tannins. Only the best wines, such as Lafleur, Cheval Blanc and Mouton-Rothschild, offer balance and richness.