| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
There have been huge improvements and investment here recently in the vineyard (which is planted 75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc) and chai by former manager John Kolasa and owners Chanel. The Chateau itself has recently enjoyed a substantial make-over. This is a great property that made fabulous wines in the past but dipped in form during the 1990's until the new regime took over. It is now right back up there as one of the very best of all the Saint Emilion Chateaux. New director Nicolas Audebert came in from Krug via South America and had an amazing start to his career at Canon, conjuring up the near-perfect 2015 vintage and an outstanding 2016. One of the hottest properties in Bordeaux right now thanks to fantastic quality and reasonable en primeur pricing.
The 2017 Canon is medium to deep garnet-purple in color. It prances out with showy notions of rose oil, Indian spices, and cedar chest, over a core of juicy black plums and black cherries, with a waft of black truffles. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is packed with bright, expressive black fruits, supported by fine-grained tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long and fragrant.
Tasted blind. Deep ruby colour. Layered nose with both the high tones of red fruit, flowers and vanilla bean together with darker brambles and incense. Very youthful fruit on the palate, which is round and full, finding notes of pencil shavings together with plush red fruit. The tannins are plentiful but ripe and soft, gently integrating into the fruit.
Drink 2027 – 2029
Extremely perfumed with blackcurrants, flowers, gunmetal, gunpowder and blackberries. Full-bodied, tight and reserved. The tannins are so tightly knit and just run through the center. Needs at least three or four years to open. A blend of 77% merlot and 23% cabernet franc. Better after 2023.
Another successful year for Canon; not as voluptuous as in 2016 or 2015, but it has a wonderful salinity and a crisp, fresh curl to the fruit. They aim for crystalline flavours, vibrant fruit and a sense of forward motion, and for me it has that again this year. The flavours of blueberries, blackberries and soft, smoky almonds are drawn out through the palate, and by the time it has finished you are ready to go again. It has an austerity that is overridden by the juice, not quite overriding the vintage, but it's a delicious wine that again showcases the beauty of limestone. 50% new oak. Thomas Duclot is consultant here, and it really is a great year for the estates that he works with.
Drinking Window 2025 - 2040
Pretty dark crimson. Lightly toasty nose with some floral notes – pretty ! Not forced but with some rigour. There’s a little note of sweet oak here but it should dissipate. Good balance. A more serious, complete 2017 than many.
Drink 2025-2035
Deep crimson. Sweet dark plums and a touch of vanilla. Lovely pure black fruit that sings, if quietly for now. Silky and elegant. Refined and just slides over the palate to a very long finish. Subtle beauty.
Drink 2022-2032
Tasted as part of a Canon vertical. Bright ruby red colour. The nose is cool, fine and crunchy with fresh cherry and hedgerow fruits. Subtle toasted spices from oak come through in tandem with graphite and pencil shavings. The palate Is vibrant and fine, with bright acidity accompanying juicy red fruits. This moreish, supple Canon is forward and extremely moreish, laced with savoury complexity. The tannins remain fine grained and subtle, a gentle structure to subtly prop up the floral and intense fruit core. Long finish.
The nose is sweet with brooding black fruits the palate has the fleshy richness of ripe black cherries and cassis. Bramble underpins and balances slightly lighter at the back with ripe sweet black fruits giving richness and depth on the finish. 2024-33
Lovely and relaxed on the nose, with oak and fruit in harmony, this is a good wine, but it is slightly spoilt by a green edge on the finish and overly austere tannins. I would like it to be so much more refreshing and silky but the attack of dryness and grainy tannins rather shuts it all down. Given the reputation of this Château I am confident that it will even out, but this will always be a wine with a bitter edge.
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2017 Canon bursts from the glass with expressive notions of baked black cherries, kirsch, plum preserves and black raspberries plus hints of red roses, Ceylon tea, black olives and fertile loam. Medium-bodied, the palate is wonderfully elegant and refined, with a soft, finely grained texture and seamless freshness, finishing long and mineral laced. The blend is 77% Merlot and 23% Cabernet Franc and it was aged for 18 months in French oak, 50% new. 2021 - 2045
This is very focused and fresh with limestone and crushed-stone character. Medium to full body, integrated tannins and a salty finish. Shows lots of minerality already. Umami licorice undertones.
The deep purple-black colored 2017 Canon offers-up intense notes of crushed blackberries, black cherries and warm cassis with touches of fertile loam, yeast extract, beef drippings and iron ore plus a waft of garrigue. Medium to full-bodied with great freshness and firm, rounded tannins, it's very earthy in the mouth, finishing long and mineral-laced. A very serious wine, it is also fun, bright and vivacious and should age impressively.
