CHÂTEAU CANON

2017 1er Grand Cru Classé Saint Emilion

IN STOCK
Grapes Cab Franc, Merlot
Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
Sub-district Saint Emilion & Satellites
Village Saint Emilion
Classification 1er Grand Cru Classé
ABV 14%

77% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc. No frost. Some lovely plummy and black currant flavours on the nose. Smooth entry. The mouth feel is intriguing, tiny tannins, lots of weight and power, uplifting acidity that adds tension. The flavour is slightly muted but you can see where this wine is going. Hints of toasty oak, mineral stone and dark fruit. Showing all the right signs at this stage. Rating: 92 L&S (Apr 2018)

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Cabernet Franc dominant, with raspberry leaf, blueberries, wild strawberry, rosemary and sage, with touch of rhubarb and salted caramel at the close of play. This has a real sense of energy, it is light of touch, deft and enjoyable. No need to wait to drink this although no hurry also. 56% new oak. No frost here on the St Emilion plateau compared to many in the appellation, so less issues with ripening, although there was still rain in September, giving a lighter framed vintage compared to the ones on either side. 42hl/h yield, 56% new oak, harvest September 4 to 27. 3.66ph. Drinking range: 2022 - 2040 Rating: 95 Jane Anson, Decanter (Sep 2021)

Nicolas Audebert and his team have done it again. The 2017 Canon is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintage. Rich and vertical in construction, the 2017 possesses off-the-charts richness and intensity in all of its dimensions. In the glass, the 2017 is sumptuous and layered, with superb detail and tons of sheer pedigree. In 20 years, readers will have a fabulous time tasting the 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 together and debating their respective merits. Dark plum fruit, striking Franc aromatics and the clean, focused energy of Saint-Émilion's limestone plateau make for a ravishing, exquisite wine of the highest level. In a word: breathtaking. Drinking range: 2027 - 2057 Rating: 97 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Mar 2020)

The 2017 Canon was bottled on 15 May, 2019. This needs time to settle in the glass, the oak rather vocal at this early stage and overshadowing the blackberry and briary aromas. It only takes a couple of minutes for this Saint-Émilion to settle and reveal more limestone-infused fruit that really shows its terroir. The palate is very well defined with crunchy black fruit. I appreciate the chalky texture and freshness of this Canon, almost brittle, with blackberry and brine-like notes on the finish. Whilst not up there with the superlative 2016, the follow-up is still very fine. Note that over multiple tasting this Canon improved between September and December. Drinking range: 2022 - 2045 Rating: 95 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Feb 2020)

Château Canon

Atop the limestone plateau of St Emilion, and just west of the village, is Château Canon. Originally named Clos St Martin, the vineyard was bought by privateer and naval man Jacques Kanon in 1760. He expanded the vineyard beyond the original clos walls and built the château, but sold up after 10 years of tenure to the Fontémoing family. At some point, they also owned Château Canon in Fronsac which may account for the current name for the St Emilion estate, but it is more likely named for the dashing Jacques Kanon – either way, the owners of the Fronsac estate were not best pleased when Clos St Martin morphed into Château Canon in 1853. For most of the 20th Century, Château Canon was owned by the Fournier family but their tenure was one of gradual and sad decline. In 1996, they sold up to Alain and Gerard Wertheimer who had not long purchased Rauzan-Ségla in Margaux. Fortunately, the Wertheimers, owners of Chanel, had the wherewithal to attend to Canon’s many problems. A long term programme of complete replanting of the vineyards was started and the winery was completely renewed. The vineyard area has been expanded by the purchase of a couple of near-by plots. The, now, 34ha are planted with 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc. Opinions on Château Canon’s wines can be mixed, although tasters views may be tainted by memories of disappointing wines from the recent past. There is little denying that quality has improved considerably under the Wertheimers. In the 1996 St Emilion classification, Château Canon was granted Premier Grand Cru Classé (B) status, something re-affirmed by the 2006 and 2012 revisions. The second wine of Château Canon, first produced in 2000, was Clos Canon but will be known as Croix Canon from the 2011 vintage.

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