
Chateau Canon 2016 Saint Emilion

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!

The 2016 Canon has the unenviable task of following the astonishing 2015. and it does a damn good job. even if it doesn’t reach the same ethereal heights. There is a pleasing strictness and poise on the nose; this is less immediate than the 2015. yet intellectual. a Canon that expresses its terroir rather than tons of fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannin. a fine bead of acidity. a smooth texture and a slightly savory but persistent finish. which feels a little plusher than the 2015. implying that this might drink a little earlier. But there is unquestionably immense breeding locked into this rejuvenated Saint-Émilion. which is now firmly ensconced among the top-flight Right Banks.

Complex aromas of blackberries. iodine. oyster shell and wet earth. Ever so perfumed. Full-bodied. yet reserved and tight with very silky tannins that are energized and minerally. Takes off at the end. The freshness lifts it. Try after 2024.
97-99 / 100 Parker Punkte
Neal Martin bewertet den Chateau Canon 2016 April 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.
96-97 / 100 Punkte
James Suckling bewertet den Chateau Canon 2016 im April 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.
Neal Martin bewertet den Chateau Canon 2016 April 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.
96-97 / 100 Punkte
James Suckling bewertet den Chateau Canon 2016 im April 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.