THE WINE ADVOCATE Rating: (97 – 99)
“2018 Canon is a blend of 72% Merlot and 28% Cabernet Franc, with a pH of 3.69 and 14% alcohol. Deep purple-black in color, it comes sashaying out of the glass with glamorous notes of cinnamon stick, baked blackberry, black cherry compote and licorice plus an undercurrent of plum preserves and smoked meat and tantalizingly reveals a lovely floral signature of candied violets and red roses Medium to full-bodied, the palate is wonderfully soft, whispering of fragrant flowers and red roses.earthy aromas under a core of deep, mouth-coating black and blue fruits, draped in a high level of super-ripe, soft tannins, finishing with fantastic freshness and perfume with lots of mineral sparks emerging.”
Other reviews….
A blend of 72% Merlot and 28% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Canon has a pH of 3.69 and 14% alcohol. It is deep garnet purple in color and pours effortlessly from the glass with a beautiful perfume of candied violets, preserved plums, black cherry compote and Ceylon tea with hints of kirsch, powdered cinnamon, chocolate box and fertile loam. The medium to full-bodied palate is packed with juicy black fruit layers, supported by plush, oh-so-soft tannins and a well-knit freshness, finishing long and fragrant. Drink: 2025-2052.
97+ points
Lisa Perrotti-Brown – wine lawyer
Ripe and focused with a core of plum, black cherry and raspberry compote notes that are still a bit coiled up, though infused with a strong chalky backbone and notes of black tea and tobacco that should all meld as it stretches out into the basement. A restrained, refined, long wine that drips with class. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2024 to 2038.
95 points
James Molesworth – Wine Spectator
Blackberry and tar with aromas of wet earth and dark bark. Dark chocolate and brownie notes too. It is full-bodied with creamy tannins and a round, caressing finish. Nice focus and intensity, but dense and layered. Extremely creamy and polished. Really precise and tailored. It already opens beautifully on the palate. Drink after 2025.
98 points
James Suckling
The 2018 Canon is as magnificent from the bottle as it was from the cask. Maybe more. Vertical and explosive in the glass, Canon sizzles with excitement and life. Readers will find a majestic, soaring Grand Cru Classé that captures all the magic of the Saint-Émilion limestone plateau. Canon exudes overwhelming precision and elegance. It’s another magnificent effort from technical director Nicolas Audebert and his team. Drink: 2028-2068
98 points
Antonio Galloni – Vinous
Château Canon 2018 reminds me of a slightly fresher, more focused version of the 2009, and the 2018 boasts a deep ruby/purple color as well as fantastic minerality in its smoky red and black fruits, graphite, cocoa, burnt earth and spice box driven aromas and flavors. Deep, rich, beautifully concentrated and structured, this is a powerful Canon that will benefit from 4-5 years of bottle age and last for decades. The 2018 is a blend of 72% Merlot and 28% Cabernet Franc that hits 14% natural alcohol (pH is 3.66) and is still aged in 52% new French oak. Tasted twice.
96-98+ points
Yep Dunnuck
About Château Canon
Château Canon is located on top of a plateau with an enchanting panoramic view of the town of Saint-Emilion. The chateau dates all the way back to 1760, and already in 1770 it was a well-known and well-established Château, and since then grape juice has been “pressed” to make some of Saint-Emilion’s best wines. In fact, they are known to be some of the longest-lived wines from Saint-Emilion. If you happen to “come across” an old vintage, it might be worth buying.
In 1996, new forces were added, and the Wertheimer family bought Château Canon. Wertheimer had both the capital and plenty of blood to bring the house to stardom. In fact, things went so well for the family that they had also invested in Rauzan-Ségla two years before! A house we are now also extremely proud to have introduced into our range. From the start after the purchase, the goals were crystal clear. Everything had to be polished, and no expense was spared. In 2015, Nicolas Audebert stepped in as the new winemaker and gave the wines new exuberant intensity. Nicolas had previously worked at Krug in Champagne and most recently at Cheval des Andes in Mendoza, Argentina. The first steps taken were to replant the worn vines in the fields. A work that had begun a few years before, but which has really picked up speed in recent years. Along with the replanting, the planting area of Cabernet Franc has increased. Audebert and his team believe that Cabernet Franc does exceptionally well on the château’s chalky soils. At the same time, the grape gives a terrific extra dimension and finesse to the wine, which is otherwise Merlot-dominated. Today, the vineyards are planted with 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. Despite the many new vines, some of the old “faithful” ones have still been preserved. Here, some of the roots grow all the way down to approx. 8 meters. Beneath some of Canon’s vineyards there is actually a lifttoric underground cave that stretches over 30 km long. This unique phenomenon was a well-kept secret for a long time. The caves were created at a time when the hard limestone was used to build the city of Saint-Emilion itself. A minor detail for those interested in history.
French elegance
Adjustments in the wine cellar have also led to wines with sparkling, delicious fruit, more freshness and a balance like a tightrope walker. Where previously a greater proportion of new French oak was used during the maturation of the wines, today they have gone the opposite way. Therefore, several one-year-old casks are used, which at the same time are less toasted. Less influence from hard toasted oak gives wines with more virility and lively fruit. Balance and elegance are paramount. All some really good decisions that work so we think “wow”!
