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100 Robert Parker
The brilliant 2020 Canon looks set to surpass both the 2019 and 2016 as this estate's finest wine since the post-war period, though like many of the best 2020s, it will require more patience than its 2019 counterpart. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cherries and raspberries mingled with notions of exotic spices and iris, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with vibrant acids and beautifully polished, chalky tannins. Pure and precise, it concludes with a long, mouthwatering finish. This beautifully constructed wine communicates the essence of this superb limestone terroir, and it will be worth a special effort to track down and cellar.
Producer
Château Canon
This quiet St. Emilion property located close to the centre of St. Emilion village is owned by the Wertheimer family, the owner of Chanel SA, who also own Château Rauzan Ségla in Margaux. Despite having a notable amount of Merlot (75%) in its 32 hectares of vineyards, it has a wine style different from many other St. Emilion estates in that its wines tend to be firm, chiseled and focused in their youth rather than voluptuous and round like many others. As a result, some feel that it has a more Médoc feel compared to its peers. It is also one of the best châteaux to access the incredible limestone caves that extend for over 70 hectares below the centre of the town. The limestone was originally extracted to build St. Emilion, Libourne and the neighbouring villages and the caves were used to hide both people and wine during World War II. Since the 1996 vintage, Canon's quality has gone from strength-to-strength following considerable investment by the family to modernise its cellars, replant and reorganise its vineyards and even add additional parcels from Curé Bon, a former neighbouring château.