Château Canon - Saint-Emilion Grand Cru 2016 6b11bd6ba9341f0271941e7df664d056

Wine Advocate

98 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe11/30/2018

Composed of 74% Merlot and 26% Cabernet Franc and aged for 18 months in 70% new French barriques, the 2016 Canon is medium to deep garnet-purple in color, and—WOW—it opens with the most stunning perfume of violets, red roses and kirsch, giving way to a core of black cherry preserves, chocolate box, licorice, warm plums and Chinese five spice plus an earthy waft of underbrush. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is completely filled with expressive, perfumed black berry layers accented by lively red fruits and exotic spices, supported by impressively fine-grained tannins and fantastic tension, finishing very long with jaw-dropping energy. Tasted three times, I had one opportunity to taste the 2015 and 2016 Canon side by side. While I love the bold, rich, seductive nature of the 2015, this 2016 kicks it up a notch in terms of polish, precision, depth and persistence. Most notably, the superbly ripe, exquisitely fine-grained tannins on this 2016 bring to the table a whole other level of sophistication. Bravo!

Decanter.com

97 / 100

byJane Ansonthe11/1/2018

Le Figaro - L'Avis du Vin

17 / 20

byClub Vinthe5/15/2017

Nez de petites ronces, prunes noires, fruits noirs, vanillé. Bouche ample, griotte, pointe végétale, tannins ronds.

Wein Wisser

18 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe5/10/2017

Bettane & Desseauve

96 / 100

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/3/2017

Dans la lignée du mythique 1955, avec un grain calcaire vêtu de satin parfaitement bien étiré et une finale saline et aérienne du meilleur effet. On est dans le tannin bien infusé.

Wine Advocate

97-99 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/2/2017

The 2016 Canon makes it a double slam-dunk for head winemaker Nicolas Audebert and his team, as it is the second of two ethereal wines that will put the estate right at the top of the Saint Emilion tree. This year is a blend of 74% Merlot and 26% Cabernet Franc picked from 22 September until 10 October at 45 hectoliters per hectare. It delivers 14.02% alcohol and an IPT of 65. Matured in 65% new oak, it has a compelling bouquet with intense black cherry and blueberry fruit, a tincture of oyster shell, all with exquisite definition. The palate is medium-bodied with filigree tannin, and again, there is stunning, almost ineffable precision. It is attired in a seamless texture with real density yet weightlessness on the finish. The persistence on the aftertaste is extraordinary. I composed this entire tasting note after spitting out the wine, but I can still feel my mouth tingling now. The 2015 was magnificent, but could this 2016 surpass that? "The 2016 is more Canon in style, more classic," commented Nicolas, and he could be right, although intuition tells me that the 2015 might be a hair's breadth better. I would not refuse either if they were opened before me.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

20 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/28/2017

Le meilleur jamais fait ! Couleur intense, belle et profonde. Nez intense, particulièrement fruité, pur, noble, légèrement fumé, crémeux, puissant et profond. Bouche si grasse, si complexe, si parfumée, si noble au toucher, si profonde en finale, si persistante, si incrachable. Forte note plaisir. Fabuleux ! Alcool : 14° versus 15° pour le 2015. pH : 3,6 dans la moyenne. IPT : 65 dans la moyenne haute. Assemblage : 76 % merlot, 24 % cabernet  franc. Rendement : 45 hl/ha.

Vinous

91-94 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe4/26/2017

The 2016 Canon is a wine of pure sophistication and polish. A rush of red cherry, plum, mint, rose petal and blood orange gives the 2016 its sexy, racy personality. Underlying veins of minerality and salinity provide finesse and persistence. In 2016, Canon is pure class. It doesn't reach the stratospheric level of the 2015, but that is too much to ask in a vintage that presented significant challenges in the vineyard. Tasted four times.

matthewjukes.com

18 / 20

byMatthew Jukesthe4/25/2017

A fairly quiet Canon with controlled fruit and a long finish, this is a well-made wine with a lovely texture and no excesses of fat or tannin and it is surprisingly forward, too. The oak is well-judged and it perfectly matches the mood of the red fruit. | 18+

Decanter.com

98 / 100

byJane Ansonthe4/24/2017

This vintage delivers a beautiful, classic style of Canon that is right at the top of what St-Émilion can offer. Compact and dense without being hard, it is finely structured both in terms of the texture of the cassis and blackberry fruits and in the shape of the tannins. It demonstrates a clear minerality and a feather-brushing of violet notes. This is less obviously sexy than 2015, but is a wine that offers a masterclass in what limestone terroir can convey - salinity, succulence, hints of austerity and reserves of power. I retasted it a few times, and the main take away of what to expect is layers of flavour and huge persistency. The details of how they worked the vintage are an added bonus to understanding how they achieved this result. When it started getting hot and dry, they left all green cover on the vines, and did no green harvesting except tidying up in September. The result was loading the vines to avoid over-concentration. 72% Merlot and 28% Cabernet Franc, with the final blend aged in 70% new oak. 3.6pH. Drinking Window 2027 - 2050

Jancis Robinson

18,5 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/21/2017

Lively dark crimson. Very smart and complex on the nose - distinctively different. Really focused and rich but not sweet. Real lift and drive. So complete! Opulent on the nose but nothing remotely simple and sweet. Throbs with excitement.

Wine Enthusiast

96-98 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/19/2017

Barrel Sample. A powerful, concentrated and superripe wine, this is major. The wine's juicy black-plum fruit balances its dark tannins and density. You can sense the impressive future for this structured wine.

Wine Spectator

95-98 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/10/2017

Vivacious and integrated already, with plum, raspberry and cassis notes matched by a bright floral hint and a flash of rooibos tea. Refined minerality through the finish. Ample depth, but it is defined by its purity and drive.—J.M.

Jamessuckling.com

96-97 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/5/2017

Very intense aromas already of pure berry, mineral and spice. Full body yet refined and tight with gorgeous linear and refined character. Beautiful and classic beauty.