Château Le Gay
Château Le Gay
Originally called Domaine du Gay, Château Le Gay takes its name from the lieu-dit Le Gay, part of which was sold to the Greloud family that eventually became Château Lafleur. Coincidentally, Château Le Gay was inherited by the Robin sisters in 1946, who also happened to own Château Lafleur.
Over the next few decades, under the ownership of the Robin sisters, Château Le Gay was managed by Jean-Pierre Moueix, who also purchased portions of the vineyard to add to the acreage of Château La Fleur-Pétrus. After the passing of the Robin sisters, Château Le Gay was acquired by Catherine Péré Vergé in 2002, who quickly increased the acreage and brought Michel Rolland on board as a consultant.
Viniculture
The vineyards of Château Le Gay are planted to approximately 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc, with some parcels located next to Château La Fleur-Pétrus. Yields are kept low, resulting in the concentrated, full-bodied Pomerol that wine connoisseurs around the world have come to love.
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Wine Spectator (95)
Tannic monster. Full-bodied, with masses of superripe fruit and mouthpuckering tannins. Port lovers like me love this stuff. Age it for decades to come.--1989 Bordeaux horizontal. Best after 2006. -JS$2,335.00 -
Wine Advocate (95+)
The 2005 Le Gay is a massive, masculine Pomerol, very much in the style of Gazin, but showing much more minerality, abundant blue and black fruits, a full-bodied mouthfeel, and loads of tannin in a youthful, backward style, even at age 10. Give this wine at least another 5-10 years of cellaring and drink it over the following quarter-century.$2,100.00 -
Wine Advocate (95+)
The 2005 Le Gay is a massive, masculine Pomerol, very much in the style of Gazin, but showing much more minerality, abundant blue and black fruits, a full-bodied mouthfeel, and loads of tannin in a youthful, backward style, even at age 10. Give this wine at least another 5-10 years of cellaring and drink it over the following quarter-century.$767.00 -
(1x600cl) 2008Wine Advocate (94+)
One of the top successes of the vintage, the 2008 Le Gay, a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc (13.5% alcohol) was produced from tiny yields of 25 hectoliters per hectare. Bottled unfined and unfiltered, it exhibits a dense purple color as well as a sweet nose of spring flowers intermixed with blueberries, blackberries, dark raspberries, crushed rocks and white chocolate. Full-bodied, super intense and extremely promising (although it is unusually backward for a 2008), it will benefit from 5-7 years of cellaring and may merit an even higher score in a decade or so. It should last for 30+ years, making it one of the longest-lived wines of the vintage.$1,050.00 -
Wine Advocate (99)
The 2010 Le Gay is performing sensationally, even better than my wildly enthusiastic tasting notes from barrel might have predicted. Inky opaque purple, and presenting a formidable and foreboding nose of camphor, black truffles, graphite, blueberries and blackberries as well as hints of smoked meats and floral nuances. Just about everything seems to be present in this smorgasbord of aromatics delights. The wine hits the palate with power, richness and purity, full-bodied texture, and enormous intensity, and I was somewhat shocked at the natural alcohol. In a vintage that routinely hit 14.5 to 15% for the Merlot-dominated wines, it was only 13.5% at Le Gay. The final blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. This wine needs at least 8-10 years of cellaring, based on its masculinity and structure, and should easily eclipse 20-40 years in a good cellar.$2,065.00 -
Wine Advocate (99)
The 2010 Le Gay is performing sensationally, even better than my wildly enthusiastic tasting notes from barrel might have predicted. Inky opaque purple, and presenting a formidable and foreboding nose of camphor, black truffles, graphite, blueberries and blackberries as well as hints of smoked meats and floral nuances. Just about everything seems to be present in this smorgasbord of aromatics delights. The wine hits the palate with power, richness and purity, full-bodied texture, and enormous intensity, and I was somewhat shocked at the natural alcohol. In a vintage that routinely hit 14.5 to 15% for the Merlot-dominated wines, it was only 13.5% at Le Gay. The final blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. This wine needs at least 8-10 years of cellaring, based on its masculinity and structure, and should easily eclipse 20-40 years in a good cellar.$162.00 -
Wine Advocate (99)
The 2010 Le Gay is performing sensationally, even better than my wildly enthusiastic tasting notes from barrel might have predicted. Inky opaque purple, and presenting a formidable and foreboding nose of camphor, black truffles, graphite, blueberries and blackberries as well as hints of smoked meats and floral nuances. Just about everything seems to be present in this smorgasbord of aromatics delights. The wine hits the palate with power, richness and purity, full-bodied texture, and enormous intensity, and I was somewhat shocked at the natural alcohol. In a vintage that routinely hit 14.5 to 15% for the Merlot-dominated wines, it was only 13.5% at Le Gay. The final blend is 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. This wine needs at least 8-10 years of cellaring, based on its masculinity and structure, and should easily eclipse 20-40 years in a good cellar.$2,675.00 -
Wine Advocate (94)
The 2011 Le Gay exhibits a deep ruby/blue/purple color in addition to a sumptuous nose of spring flowers, blueberries and raspberries, deep, full-bodied, slightly masculine flavors, and sensational purity, richness and texture. It is another impressive 2011 Pomerol that has the guts, stuffing and structure to age for 15-20 years.$609.00 -
(12x75cl) 2012Jeb Dunnuck (95)
The 2012 from Le Gay sports an inky purple color as well as masculine, lifted notes of plums, violets, licorice and scorched earth. A big, rich, concentrated effort, it has impeccable purity, a firm, focused, structured core, notable acidity, and superb concentration, all suggesting it needs to be forgotten for 7-8 year. It should keep for 15+ years.$1,285.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (95)
The 2012 from Le Gay sports an inky purple color as well as masculine, lifted notes of plums, violets, licorice and scorched earth. A big, rich, concentrated effort, it has impeccable purity, a firm, focused, structured core, notable acidity, and superb concentration, all suggesting it needs to be forgotten for 7-8 year. It should keep for 15+ years.$712.00 -
James Suckling (95-96)
A tight and racy red with walnut skin, pecan nuts, chili and spice. Blackberry. Full body, round texture. Chewy. Very promising. Like the great Le Gays from the 1980s.$1,220.00 -
(3x300cl) 2015James Suckling (95-96)
A tight and racy red with walnut skin, pecan nuts, chili and spice. Blackberry. Full body, round texture. Chewy. Very promising. Like the great Le Gays from the 1980s.$1,110.00 -
James Suckling (98-99)
One of the best Le Gays in years. Full-bodied and polished with superfine tannins. Layered. Goes on for minutes.$529.00 -
(12x75cl) 2017Wine Advocate (93-95+)
The deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Le Gay is youthfully mute, opening with black cherries, wild blueberries and mulberry scents with suggestions of violets, licorice and black soil. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers beautifully delineated fruit with oodles of freshness and firm yet beautifully ripe tannins, finishing very long and perfumed.$1,005.00 -
Wine Advocate (93-95+)
The deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Le Gay is youthfully mute, opening with black cherries, wild blueberries and mulberry scents with suggestions of violets, licorice and black soil. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers beautifully delineated fruit with oodles of freshness and firm yet beautifully ripe tannins, finishing very long and perfumed.$412.00 -
James Suckling (97-98)
A tight and dense red with depth of fruit and polished tannins that really impress at this stage. It’s naturally refined and complex with so much dark-berry, chocolate, cedar and hazelnut character. Great wine.$563.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (96+)
The 2019 Château Le Gay is a spicy, already complex, yet structured Pomerol that has some up-front appeal, yet will unquestionably benefit from bottle age. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by a medium to full-bodied, ripe, nicely textured Pomerol that has abundant spiced red and black fruits, notes of dried herbs, loamy earth, and spicy oak, ripe, velvety tannins, and plenty of length on the finish. Give bottles 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades. It should merit that higher barrel score at maturity.$1,170.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (96+)
The 2019 Château Le Gay is a spicy, already complex, yet structured Pomerol that has some up-front appeal, yet will unquestionably benefit from bottle age. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by a medium to full-bodied, ripe, nicely textured Pomerol that has abundant spiced red and black fruits, notes of dried herbs, loamy earth, and spicy oak, ripe, velvety tannins, and plenty of length on the finish. Give bottles 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades. It should merit that higher barrel score at maturity.$217.00 -
Jeb Dunnuck (96+)
The 2019 Château Le Gay is a spicy, already complex, yet structured Pomerol that has some up-front appeal, yet will unquestionably benefit from bottle age. Its deep ruby/purple color is followed by a medium to full-bodied, ripe, nicely textured Pomerol that has abundant spiced red and black fruits, notes of dried herbs, loamy earth, and spicy oak, ripe, velvety tannins, and plenty of length on the finish. Give bottles 4-5 years and enjoy over the following two decades. It should merit that higher barrel score at maturity.$556.00 -
James Suckling (98-99)
This is a young red with great intensity and vision that starts off slowly and builds with energy and verve. It’s so minerally with salty, chalky and spice undertones to the cool and vibrant, purple and subtle-fruit flavors. The tannins are wonderfully toned and polished and build on the palate to deliver something very special.$929.00 -
(1x75cl) 2020James Suckling (98-99)
This is a young red with great intensity and vision that starts off slowly and builds with energy and verve. It’s so minerally with salty, chalky and spice undertones to the cool and vibrant, purple and subtle-fruit flavors. The tannins are wonderfully toned and polished and build on the palate to deliver something very special.$213.00 -
James Suckling (98-99)
This is a young red with great intensity and vision that starts off slowly and builds with energy and verve. It’s so minerally with salty, chalky and spice undertones to the cool and vibrant, purple and subtle-fruit flavors. The tannins are wonderfully toned and polished and build on the palate to deliver something very special.$1,295.00 -
James Suckling (98-99)
This is a young red with great intensity and vision that starts off slowly and builds with energy and verve. It’s so minerally with salty, chalky and spice undertones to the cool and vibrant, purple and subtle-fruit flavors. The tannins are wonderfully toned and polished and build on the palate to deliver something very special.$402.00 -
James Suckling (95-96)
Opulent and pure with currants and blackberries and some floral and orange undertones. Medium to full body. Fine tannins. Bright at the end.$498.00 -
(12x75cl) 2023Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)
The 2023 Le Gay is a gorgeous, sumptuous Pomerol. Copious dark fruit, mocha, chocolate, licorice, dried herbs and a kiss of French oak are all laced together. As always, Le Gay shows the riper side of the appellation, which is amplified by vinification in barrel. This should be stellar with a few more years in bottle.$1,150.00 -
Vinous - Antonio Galloni (94)
The 2023 Le Gay is a gorgeous, sumptuous Pomerol. Copious dark fruit, mocha, chocolate, licorice, dried herbs and a kiss of French oak are all laced together. As always, Le Gay shows the riper side of the appellation, which is amplified by vinification in barrel. This should be stellar with a few more years in bottle.$625.00 -
Vinous - Neal Martin (84-86)
The 2021 Manoir de Gay has a light blackberry and sous-bois scented nose that needs more vigour. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly dry tannins, leathery black fruit with a saline finish. Not bad, though it lacks real excitement.$168.00

