98 Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Independent

The 2016 Canon la Gaffeliere has a deep garnet color. It bursts on the scene with exuberant notes of juicy blackberries, plum preserves, and fruit cake, plus suggestions of clove oil, mocha, and Indian spices. The full-bodied palate is full-on rich and decadent, featuring velvety tannins and just enough freshness to match the concentrated black fruit and spicy layers, finishing with epic length.

97 Jonathan Choukroun - Vert de Vin

The nose is fruity, powerful, delicate and offers sweetness as well as minerality. It reveals slight hints of blackberry, black berries and gray pepper associated with discreet hints of flowers, ripe/fresh cherry, licorice, toasted oak as well as a very discreet hint of graphite. The palate is elegant, well-balanced, beautifully powerful (full in finesse) and offers a beautiful silky matter, a great vivacity, a beautiful minerality, an acid frame, tension, a nice deepness, a very nice finesse as well as a beautiful roundness. In the mouth this wine expresses notes of blackberry, fresh/ripe black berries/cassis associated with a hint of fresh/ripe red fruits (cherry…), toasted oak and spices. Tannins are elegant, fine and nicely mature. Beautiful and gourmande persistance with slight toasted/caramelized notes, chocolate as well as a very discreet hint of salinity. (2027+)

96 James Suckling - Jamessuckling.com

"The aromas are very complex with sweet tobacco, black truffles, blueberries and blackberries. Subtle. Menthol, too. Full-bodied yet so elegant. Structure with finesse and purity. The tannins are melted in the wine. Fabulous young wine. Try tasting it from 2023."

96 Antonio Galloni - Vinous

The 2016 Canon La Gaffelière is just as striking from bottle as it was from barrel. Bright, intensely aromatic and precise, the 2016 has it all. Sweet red cherry, pomegranate, blood orange and rose petal all race through this silky, super-expressive Saint-Émilion. In 2016, Canon La Gaffelière is especially polished, refined and nuanced, which means also less overly powerful than in the past. It was compelling both times I tasted it from bottle.

95 Wine Enthusiast

"Bold tannins, rich fruit and good acidity combine in a wine that is powerful while always fresh. With acidity and stylish black-currant flavors, the wine's fruitiness comes through the tannins, finishing with a juicy, perfumed aftertaste. Drink from 2025."

95 Wine Spectator

"This delivers a very fresh, juicy ball of red and black currant preserve flavors laced liberally with bramble, roasted apple wood and sweet tobacco notes. Shows terrific purity, energy and drive, with a piercing echo of minerality through the mouthwatering finish. Best from 2022 through 2038. 6,917 cases made. — JM"

95 Jeb Dunnuck - jebdunnuck.com

One of the most elegant and seamless wines in the vintage is the 2016 Chateau Canon-la-Gaffelière, a blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in 60% new French oak. This medium to full-bodied beauty has brilliant minerality as well as tons of cassis fruits, notions of spice box, cedarwood, licorice, and dried earth, silky tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. It shows the purity and elegance of the vintage to a T. Drink this fabulous Saint-Emilion any time over the coming 20+ years.