Château Canon-la-Gaffelière

The history of the estate dates back to the 17th century when the land was part of a larger domain owned by the Malet-Roquefort family. Records from a wine merchant in Libourne show that the first wine from the site was sold in 1777. During the 19th century, the property was acquired and managed by the Boitard de la Poterie family under the name La Gaffelière-Boitard before the title was eventually simplified to its current form. In 1971, Count Joseph-Hubert von Neipperg purchased the château, initiating a new era of investment and modernization. His son, Count Stephan von Neipperg, assumed technical management in 1985 and has since directed the estate transition to organic viticulture and the refinement of its viticultural practices to better reflect the local terroir.

The 19.5 hectare vineyard is located south of the village of Saint-Émilion at the foot of the limestone plateau. The terroir consists of clay-limestone and clay-sand soils that are notably efficient at capturing and retaining heat. Unlike many neighboring estates that favor higher proportions of Merlot, this vineyard is planted with approximately 40 percent Cabernet Franc and 10 percent Cabernet Sauvignon. The average age of the vines is 50 years, with some plots reaching 80 years of age. The estate achieved official organic certification in 2014 and employs a non-interventionist winemaking philosophy. Harvesting is done by hand into small crates, followed by sorting before and after destemming. Grapes are fermented in temperature-controlled wooden vats for approximately 30 days and aged on fine lees in French oak barrels, with up to 80 percent new wood used for the maturation period.

Château Canon-la-Gaffelière was promoted to Premier Grand Cru Classé B status in the 2012 classification of Saint-Émilion. This recognition followed decades of vineyard restructuring and a move away from early experiments with modern technical extraction toward a style that emphasizes aromatic complexity and textural balance. The estate also produces a second wine named Les Hauts de Canon La Gaffelière, which was formerly known as Côte Mignon La Gaffelière. The property remains the flagship of the Vignobles Comtes von Neipperg portfolio, which includes other nearby estates such as the small-production La Mondotte and the Grand Cru Classé Clos de l'Oratoire.