2018 Chateau Canon
By Chateau Canon
2018 Chateau Canon from Chateau Canon, Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux
Bookended by whispers of vintages past and the anticipation of future releases, the 2018 Chateau Canon substantiates its standing as a paragon within the historical tapestry of Bordeaux. Nestled in the prestigious Saint-Émilion, an appellation that needs no embellishment, the 2018 Chateau Canon from Chateau Canon stands as a testament to the château's relentless pursuit of enological mastery.
A Vintage Carving Its Own Niche
Those who had the privilege of tracing the development of this vintage from its embryonic stages will recall the 2018 year as one marked by climatic generosity. Following early trepidation, the vines were coddled by an impeccable summer with ample sunshine and just enough water to tease out a complexity of flavours at harvest. Sharp observers noted this period's potential contribution to what could be a defining year for Bordeaux’s wines. The 2018 vintage at Chateau Canon seized this meteorological bounty and has encapsulated it with deftness, producing a wine that balances elegance and potency in each sip.
The Quintessence of Terroir and Time
The 2018 Chateau Canon is a masterclass in structure and depth. Tasters will recognise a realm where dark fruits interlace with mineral veins, doubtlessly alluding to Saint-Émilion's fabled limestone foundations. There is a poise here; black cherries, plums, and even hints of chocolate combine seamlessly with refined tannins that whisper promises of longevity. It’s not merely an investment-worthy bottle; it's a collector’s vibrant narrative waiting to unfold over time.
This offering stands tall alongside its predecessors but is distinct—its vibrancy and assurance speak of the optimism contained within the year's grapes. As each nuanced layer reveals itself, collectors and investors alike should consider the harmonious integration achieved here as indicative of a vintage with significant cellar potential.
In Summation: The Sophisticate’s Choice
The 2018 Chateau Canon captures, with eloquence, the radiance instilled by a benevolent season. Its poised expression within the glass serves as a meritorious addition to any connoisseur’s collection and offers an enticing trajectory for those intertwined in the artistry of wine investment. Its individuality reassures us that this vintage indeed commands its place amid the rich tapestry that is Saint-Émilion wine production.
Market price (CAD)
$1,360.00
12x75cl
Highest score
98
POP score
45.56
Scores and tasting notes
This is a dense and focused Canon with beautiful blackberry, almond and hazelnut character. Vivid and lifted. It’s compact and complete with tannins that melt into the center palate and then build at the end. Full-bodied yet reserved and driven. A superb and focused wine. Classy all the way. New 1955?
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com - April 2019
The 2018 Canon is blended of 72% Merlot and 28% Cabernet Franc, with a pH of 3.69 and 14% alcohol. Deep purple-black in color, it comes sashaying out of the glass with glamorous notes of cinnamon stick, baked blackberries, black cherry compote and licorice plus an undercurrent of plum preserves and smoked meats and, with coaxing, reveals a lovely floral signature of candied violets and red roses. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is wonderfully soft-spoken, whispering of fragrant floral and earthy scents beneath a core of profound, mouth-coating black and blue fruits, draped in a high level of super ripe, plush tannins, finishing with amazing freshness and perfume with loads of mineral sparks emerging.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 23rd April 2019
Features a gorgeous core of plum and black currant fruit, deeply inlaid with tobacco notes and chalky minerality. Everything melds wonderfully through the finish, which is refined in feel.—J.M.
James Molesworth - Wine Spectator - April 2019
Pretty closed up right now, this is full of latent energy. It's extremely powerful and precise, with poise and tension but also with generosity and density, yet it errs on the side of not giving much away rather than giving too much. You have to give it time in the glass for those cool blueberry, bilberry and tightly spiced notes to come to the fore. The stunning texture is clear but the aromatics take their time. This is a wine that carries its finesse with great skill, and they have done a brilliant job of allowing this aspect to shine amongst the heat of the vintage, allowing the density to inch deeper with every minute in the glass. This wine just gets better and better, Harvest ran from 7 September to 9 October, the longest ever here, with no pressure of rot. 42hl/ha yield. Thomas Duclos consults.
Jane Anson - Decanter - April 2019
The 2018 Canon bristles with energy, tension and explosive, vertical lift. Dark, powerful and full of personality, Canon is magnificent in 2018. Time in the glass brings out a range of dark fruit, mineral, floral and saline notes, but readers will have to be patient in order to enjoy the 2018 at its fullest splendor. Most importantly, I am blown away by how much precision and persistence there is given the wine's concentration and overall richness. The 2018 Canon is magnificent. That's pretty much all there is to it. The blend is 72% Merlot and 28% Cabernet Sauvignon. Technical Director Nicolas Audebert added that he and his team left more leaf cover to protect the fruit from the extreme heat and dryness of the summer. Once in the cellar, extractions were done as gently as possible, Audebert explained. Tasted four times.
Antonio Galloni - Vinous - April 2019