Château Canon 2023

A nose to dive into: deep, noble, defined by dark fruit, complemented by floral notes, eucalyptus and chalky minerality. Razor‑sharp on the palate, immensely powerful yet highly elegant, lots of tension and concentration, perfect tannins, and a wonderfully long finish. Once again, a grand cannon, built for a small eternity.

The 2023 Canon has turned out brilliantly, unfurling aromas of cassis, mulberries, rose petals, raspberries and violets. Medium- to full-bodied, it is layered and finely textured, built around a seamless, deep core of fruit framed by powdery, velvety tannins and concludes with a long, chalk-inflected, crystalline finish. Highly expressive of its terroir through its powdery tannins and limestone-driven finish, it is also very much of its vintage, combining vibrant acidity with an unusually approachable profile. This is a blend of 71% Merlot and 29% Cabernet Franc, all matured in 50% new oak.

Another excellent wine from the team at Canon benefiting from its position on the limestone plateau. Deep florals, violets, black fruits, some purple fruits too with cocoa powder and cool fresh blueberries. Smooth and so refined, this has a comfort in the mouth that few others have—a certain weight that defies the vintage—almost fleshy but more thick juice rather than lean, with a sweet core as well as biting acidity that provides great contrast. This is a serious wine; it has structure and movement, supple tannins, so fine with a touch of chalk, strawberry, cranberry and red cherry fruit, with liquorice spice on the finish. Assured winemaking, ripe fruit, great acidity and body, ending clean and pure with wet stones and graphite touches. Just delicious, a wine that tastes great now and feels like it’ll always be that way. Expansive in the best way. Ageing 16–18 months in 50% new oak as well as foudre. pH 3.42.

Rich, opulent, heady, and hedonistically-styled wine, the nose kicks off with its showy display of black cherries, black raspberries, violets, roses, lilacs, licorice, mint, tobacco, and an array of spices. The palate is geared for pleasure, with multiple layers of richly textured, flamboyant dark, mildly-smoked red fruits, paired with the essence of minerality and a touch of forest greenery. This is the perfect backdrop for the wine's layers of salt-tinged fruits that linger, build, and expand, allowing you to experience a wine with a beautiful sense of purity and no hard edges. The wine blends 71% Merlot with 29% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2029- 2060.

Finesse and saline limestone character are on full display, spiced plum, as textural as ever, with finely boned architecture, in the line of great Canon vintages, with density to the black fruits and a mouthwateringly precise tannic grip and oyster shell salinity. 50% new oak for ageing, harvest from September 6 through to October 4 (with Merlot running right through to the end; unlike many places, they really waited here). 45 hl/ha yield, in organic conversion. Tasted twice.

Dark ruby, deep core, purple reflections, brightening at the rim. Fine, attractive old-wood notes, dark cherry fruit, hints of blackberry, a touch of nougat, candied orange zest. Juicy on the palate, complex, elegant and harmonious, hints of clove, ripe, round tannins, pronounced fruit on the finish, balanced and persistent, great finesse—a fine food wine with some ageing potential.