Canon - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2023

Vinous

94

byNeal Martinthe2/1/2026

The 2023 Canon takes time to open on the nose but reveals attractive red berry fruit, pressed flowers (violet) and a very light marine influence. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins. A little spicier than I recall from barrel, with hints of cinnamon and sage, you can feel the tongue tingling after the wine has exited thanks to a pinch of cracked black pepper. Though the 2023 does not quite touch recent peaks, I appreciate the linearity of this Canon and it should age well in bottle.

Jamessuckling.com

99

byJames Sucklingthe1/27/2026

This may be one of the wines of the vintage, with brightness and ethereal character that give it an almost magical presence. Aromas of violets, lavender and blackberries with transparency and vividness. It’s medium-bodied with elegance and presence that give endless length. A benchmark. The tannins and acidity caress every millimetter of your palate. 71% merlot and 29% cabernet franc. Try after 2030, but already a joy to taste.

My Bettane + Desseauve

96

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/15/2024

Corps d’une grande précision, avec ce surcroît de délicatesse de texture présent depuis le millésime 2019. Tannin électrique et sanguin, finale émouvante bien assise et en dentelle.

Yvesbeck.wine

98-99

byYves Beckthe5/14/2024

Canon weckt zunächst die Freude an Harmonie, die Begeisterung am Wein in einem Kontext von Subtilität und Authentizität, in dieser Art und Weise, die uns daran erinnert, dass wir es trotz der Verherrlichung durch unsere Worte und unsere Geschmacksnerven in erster Linie einfach mit einem Wein zu tun haben, der nur darauf wartet, genossen zu werden! Das Bouquet von Canon positioniert sich auf zarte, aber entschlossene Weise, mit einer filigranen und vollendeten Präzision. Der Auftakt beeindruckt in seiner seidigen, eleganten, weinigen Logik. Canon hat Charakter, Charme, Fülle und die Fähigkeit, viele Details in einem umfangreichen Kontext zu enthüllen. Ein relevanter, präziser Wein, vom Bouquet bis zum Finale. Wenn sich Exzellenz mit Bescheidenheit profilieren kann, beginnt man von einer Oase der Ruhe zu träumen, in der nur der Genuss das Sagen hat!

Jeb DUNNUCK

94-96

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/13/2024

The 2023 Château Canon is an ultra-classic wine from this terroir offering textbook limestone-driven, black raspberry, floral, chalky, and spicy aromas and flavors. As always, it's not massive and is more medium-bodied, with a balanced, elegant mouthfeel, ripe, polished tannins, and no hard edges. It actually reminds me a little of the 2001 from this estate. It's a gorgeous wine that will evolve for 25+ years, and I wouldn't be surprised to see it drink nicely in its youth as well. Tasted multiple times.

Decanter.com

98

byGeorgina Hindlethe5/7/2024

Another excellent wine from the team at Canon benefitting 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 a 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. 3.42pH.

The Drinks Business

96-98

byColin Haythe5/7/2024

Canon (Saint Émilion; 71% Merlot; 29% Cabernet Franc; a final yield of 45 hl/ha; pH 3.42; 14% alcohol; tasted at the UGC press tasting at the Cité du Vin and then at Canon itself). Sublimely Canon! Dark, rich, cool, composed, calming, intimate, almost a little like entering a dark chapel from the summer sunshine and then focusing in on the details of the stained glass. Pixilated – in colour. Strikingly sharp-focused, with the sensation of that coming from the extra detail and definition afforded by the powdery limestone/chalky tannins. Graphite and black berry and, above all, stone fruits, with a lovely gracious Cabernet leafiness. Sumptuous and sinuous, with just the right amount of fruit concentration to allow this to weave its magical path over the palate. Less substantial than recent vintages but a lovely expression of the vintage. Finely seasoned, above all with limestone fleur de sel! 

The Wine Independent

98-100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/7/2024

A blend of 71% Merlot and 29% Cabernet Franc, the 2023 Canon has a pH of 3.42 and it will age in barriques for 16-18 months, of which 50% are new. It is deep garnet-purple in color and sails out of the glass with bold notions of juicy blueberries, fresh plums, and Bing cherries, giving way to hints of black pepper, fragrant soil, and violets. The medium to full-bodied palate shimmers with energetic black and blue fruits, framed by super-satiny tannins and compelling tension, finishing long and fragrant. Absolutely ethereal!

The Wine Cellar Insider

97-99

byJeff Levethe5/6/2024

Violets, roses, and lilacs kick off the floral display. You also find cherries, plums, black raspberries, cigar box, and spice, with a touch of licorice. There is balance between the vivacity, and sweetness, strong sense of crushed rocks, and stones, depth, and intensity. The finish is racy, in all the best ways, which is the perfect backdrop for the wines layers of salt-tinged fruits that linger. The best part of the wine is that the fruit expresses a beautiful sense of purity, with no hard . edges. The wine blends 71% Merlot with 29% Cabernet Franc. 14% ABV. 3.41. Harvesting took place September 6 - October 4. The length of the harvest is one of the key points to the vintage, as the estate was able to stop, start ,and wait for phenolic ripeness. Drink from 2030- 2060. 96-98 Pts.

Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

96

byJane Ansonthe5/6/2024

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

Vinous

94-96

byAntonio Gallonithe4/30/2024

A wine of classicism and reserve, the 2023 Canon is less overtly expressive than most recent vintages, keeping much of its personality in reserve. Nevertheless, I watched it grow considerably over the two weeks I spent in Bordeaux. Bright red-toned fruit, blood orange, mint and spice are some of the many notes that open in the glass. It is a wine that marries generous fruit with classical rigor. I won't be surprised if it shows even better with time. Tasted four times.

Vinous

94-96

byNeal Martinthe4/29/2024

The 2023 Canon was picked from around 6 September to 6 October at 45hL/ha and matured in 50% new oak. It has a perfumed bouquet with pure black cherries and touches of cassis and violet. The oak is beautifully integrated. Perhaps if I have to quibble, it is not quite as complex as the very best recent vintages, but that's a high bar nowadays. The palate is medium-bodied with sappy black cherry fruit laced with iodine, and veins of blue fruit. There is a sorbet-like freshness embroidered throughout this Canon, and it delivers a lovely cracked black pepper note on the finish. Excellent. Again.

Falstaff

96

byPeter Moserthe4/29/2024

Dark ruby, deep core, purple reflections, brightening on the edge. Fine, attractive old wood notes, dark cherry fruit, hints of blackberries, a hint of nougat, candied orange zest. Juicy on the palate, complex, elegant and harmonious, hints of cloves, ripe, round tannins, pronounced fruit in the finish, balanced and persistent, great finesse, a good food wine with certain ageing potential.

Alexandre Ma

95-97

byAlexandre Mathe4/28/2024

Wine Advocate

96-98

byWilliam Kelleythe4/26/2024

Wafting from the glass with aromas of mulberries and raspberries mingled with spices, rose petals, licorice and violets, the 2023 Canon is another brilliant wine from a property whose excellence can almost be taken for granted. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's seamless and concentrated, its vibrant core of fruit framed by sweet, powdery tannins and girdled by lively acids, concluding with a long, mineral finish.

Jamessuckling.com

99-100

byJames Sucklingthe4/25/2024

This is so elegant and sophisticated already, with a really electric presence and length that goes on and on. It's medium- to full-bodied with an intensity of tannins. It remains weightless and energetic. The pH is 3.41, making this a vivid and lively wine. Currant, orange and stone. Sea salt, too. The limestone soils created a unique wine here in 2023. A blend of 71% merlot and 29% cabernet franc.