| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Right Bank > St Emilion |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
This is a great property that made fabulous wines in the past, but dipped in form during the 1990s until the Fournier family sold it in 1996. Huge improvements and investments were then made - in vineyard and chai - by former manager John Kolasa and new owners Chanel. The château itself has recently enjoyed a substantial make-over. It is now right back up there as one of the very best of all the Saint Emilion châteaux. New director Nicolas Audebert came in from Krug via South America and had an amazing start to his career at Canon. His triumphant 100 point 2015 has been followed by a string of great vintages, yet release prices remain sensible. The vineyard is planted 75% Merlot, 25% Cabernet Franc. There is also a very good second label called Croix Canon.
The 2024 is 78% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc from a healthy yield of 44 hl/ha. Elevage is in 49% new oak, 45% second fill from 5 coopers (Sylvain, Taransaud, Quintesance, Demptos and St Martin) and 6% in foudres. ABV 13.5%. Jean-Basile Roland described the wine as "smooth with precise rounded tannins, can be drunk early or will keep. Stylistically a modern and better version of the 2012".
The 2024 Canon is shaping up brilliantly, wafting from the glass with aromas of sweet cherries, blackberries and raspberries mingled with notions of rose petals and spices. Medium to full-bodied, rich and fleshy, with tangy acids (the pH is a very low 3.35) and ultrarefined tannins, it concludes with a long, mineral finish. A blend of 78% Merlot and 22% Cabernet Franc, it's the estate's first year of organic certification.
The 2024 Canon was picked from September 19 to October 9, a harvest that I witnessed firsthand while joining the pickers on one afternoon. It aged in 49% new oak and 6% casks for between 16 and 18 months. The bouquet is well defined with pure black cherry, raspberry and a subtle marine influence that develops in the glass, though I find the Troplong Mondot tasted alongside has more amplitude. The palate is medium-bodied and pliant with fine tannins and finesse. One bottle at the château had more weight on the finish than others that feel attenuated and missing a bit of substance. 2029 - 2050
Mid ruby colour. A wine with personality in this vintage, showing bright pressed flowers, al dente red fruits, slick wood spice and well-judged florality. The palate is slick, with superb texture, a midweight fruit profile and airy, ethereal red fruit. A sapid wine of pure energy, with an athletic build and sumptuous red fruits at the core, this is a real success in 2024 with a long, spicy, moreish finish. It is not the richest or most powerful Canon, but it is very finely balanced and a translation of the place as well as the vintage.
Structured, balanced and textured, it has aromas of red berries and pine needles. It’s medium-bodied with velvety tannins. Rather seamless. Long, juicy finish with salty limestone undertones.
78% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc. pH 3.35. Aging 16-18 months in 49% new French oak. Deep garnet-purple colored. Prances out to the glass with eager-to-please scents of Morello cherries, fresh raspberries, and bay leaves, leading to hints of graphite and tree bark. The medium-bodied palate is subtle and lively with just enough red berry flavors and a chalkiness on the finish.
78% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc. pH 3.35. Aging 16-18 months in 49% new French oak.
This is a gorgeous Canon, with the austerity of limestone on full display, as you would expect in this vintage, but a creamy edge comes in through the mid palate. Clear precision, flesh pared from flesh, peony, peach pit, cherry stone, damson, blueberry, graphite, crayon, pumice, lemongrass, gunsmoke, this has tons of layers and waves of complexity, classical and balanced. 44hl/ha yield, organic certified. 3.35 pH. 49% new oak. Harvest 19 September to 9 October.
The 2024 Canon is superb. One of the standouts of the vintage, the 2024 possesses striking mid-palate depth to match its vertical personality. Chalk, white pepper, mint, lavender, rose petal, slate and blue/purplish fruit all stain the palate. There's gorgeous depth and density here, and yet the 2024 remains a super-classic wine from the property. This is a real stunner. That's all there is to it. Tasted four times. 2034 - 2059
