The History of the Castle
From the leper colony to Von Neipperg
The vineyard ofChâteau Canon-La-Gaffelièrewas already present in the Middle Ages, surrounding a leper colony called “The GaffelièreThis estate gained prestige when it was bought and enlarged in the 17th century and a castle was built on its grounds. This elegance was later reflected in its wine. Traces of the first wines bearing the appellation's stamp remain.The Gaffelièredating back to 1777. In the 19th century, the estate was divided in two. On one side, the vineyard ofMr. Modeton the other hand, that ofMr. BoitardThe latter markets it under the name ofChâteau Boitard-GaffelièreAndCanon-Boitard.Successive inheritances and marriages will bring the property into the hands of the familyPeyraudthen in those ofPierre MeyratUnder his reign, the estate was included in the first classification of the great growths of Saint-Emilion in 1955. Finally, since 1971, the CountsVon NeippergThe estate was owned first by the father and then by the son. They also own other properties:Oratory Enclosure,The Mondotte,Château Peyreau,...
The atypical terroir
Saint-Emilion PDO
The vineyard ofChâteau Canon-La-GaffelièreIt is located at the foot of the slope, thus benefiting from excellent sun exposure. Its clay-limestone and clay-sand soil is very well-draining and particularly receptive to heat. Due to this dual soil composition, the grape varieties planted have a different structure than what is usually seen in this appellation. Indeed, there is a perfect balance betweenMerlotsAndCabernetsIt is precisely this atypical development of the Cabernets that gives the Merlots their remarkable aromatic complexity and power. From these grapes, grown on vines approximately 50 years old, whose berries have been bathed in sunshine, come wines of great finesse and elegance.
The wines
Refined, complex, and biodynamic
Since 2014 the estate has been certified inbiodynamicsFrom his arrival in the 1990s,Stephan Von Neipperghad laid the foundations for a philosophy based on “respect for the terroir and the pursuit of the self-sustaining balance of its ecosystems.” Thus, interventions and manipulations in the vineyard are drastically reduced to the bare minimum. As this is a holistic approach, the same applies to work outside the vineyard. The harvest is done by hand, with complete respect for the fruit. This is the first step on the path to quality. This approach continues with a double sorting, also by hand, to retain only the very best of the harvest. Aging completes the process and takes place in new oak barrels (up to 80%) for 15 to 18 months. From this terroir and this expertise emerge complex and structured wines, refined and pure, of exceptional elegance.
