CHÂTEAU CANON

71 Merlot, 29 Cabernet Franc | 50% new oak | 13.5% alc | 40 hl/ha | 3.37 pH. This is a gentle, layered, silky and near-flamboyant Canon, and nothing is forced nor too urgent, and the result is a wine that is serenely fruited and beautifully balanced on the nose and palate. While this is firmly a medium-weight wine, there is a density of perfume and succulence on the palate, and it will enchant all-comers. The freshness and elegance here are tremendous, and the flavours are kaleidoscopic. With an impressive length and thought-provoking complexity, this is a multifaceted wine with great accuracy, refinement, and drive. Rating: 18.5 Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (Jun 2022)

Gorgeous bright plum colour with violet reflections. The epitome of careful, precise, well-spliced winemaking. Sibling estate Berliquet has perhaps more immediate charm, because there is more power running through it, but this is just elegance and finesse personified. Red cherry, raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, slate, saffron, oyster shell, they have teased out layers of complexity that were not easy to find in the vintage, and there is length also, with pummice stone salinity scraping across the palate. It's subtle, and it's not at the heights of a 2019 Canon, but this will not be out of place in a vertical of the estate. Tasted twice. 50% new oak, 40hl/h yield, harvest September 16 to October 8. Thomas Duclos consultant. Drinking range: 2027 - 2044 Rating: 96 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2022)

The 2021 Canon was picked September 16 to October 6 and matured in 50% new oak for a planned 16–18 months. Around 70% of the vineyard produced the normal yield, which underwent a 50% deselection, yet it still yielded 40hL/ha because the vines did not suffer stress. After mildew, any bunches that showed damage on the stems were removed. Nicolas Audebert told me that there was no concentration or saignée, just a little chaptalization (around 0.5–1.0%, depending on the tank). This has quite a concentrated bouquet of opulent dark cherries, blueberry, violet and just a hint of camphor. The palate is medium-bodied and pliant, with gentle grip, saturated tannins and a judicious touch of spice toward the compact finish. While recent top-flight vintages may well eclipse this Canon, it still stands as a fine addition to the recent roster. Drinking range: 2030 - 2060 Rating: 92-94 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (May 2022)

Dramatic, rich and imposing, the 2021 Canon is shaping up to be one of the wines of the vintage. Sculpted red purplish fruit, rose petal, lavender, sage and crushed rocks all race out of the glass. A heady, vertical wine, Canon is endowed with tremendous concentration and class. The aromatics alone are beguiling, but it is the wine's balance that impresses most. Tasted three times. This is such an elegant and regal wine. Drinking range: 2031 - 2061 Rating: 95-97 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (May 2022)

A brilliant wine in the making, the 2021 Canon offers up aromas of cherries, wild berries, licorice, sweet soil tones, raw cocoa, Indian spices and rose petals. Medium to full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, it's immensely refined and seamless, with a lively spine of acidity, ripe tannins and a long, penetrating, intensely saline finish. This beautifully balanced Canon is one of the classiest, most complete wines of the Right Bank in this vintage. Tasted four times. Rating: 94-96 William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (Apr 2022)