2023 Château Canon En Primeur
Released this morning for sale en primeur are the 2023 vintages from Châteaux Canon (£572 per six) and Rauzan-Ségla (£360 per six), two estates at the very top of their game, under the charismatic leadership of head winemaker Nicholas Audebert.
Canon comes with potentially perfect scores from both Lisa Perotti-Brown MW and James Suckling, whilst Rauzan is described as 'nothing short of stellar' by Galloni. Visiting both châteaux this year, we were once again impressed by the obvious calibre and dedication of the team, who seem almost fervent in their pursuit of making the best possible wines.
We also enjoyed what has become a new tradition of our en primeur trip. Being invited to taste multiple samples from various barrels, to compare the influence of different cooperages is a rather clever move by the châteaux. Clearly, Audebert has brought with him his mastery of assemblage, learned during his time making wine at Krug. Tasting the nuances of impact on tannins and aroma from different types of barrel is a great way to show the intricate artistry with which the wines are constructed during their élevage.
2023 Canon and Rauzan were both breathtaking, with saline freshness and elegance in the St-Emilion and a super-refined, polished Margaux texture in the Rauzan, as well as dark, dense intensity to its fruit. We cannot recommend these wines highly enough this year.
Offered en primeur. Landing spring 2026.
Magnums available with £20 ex-VAT bottling surcharge per six, please enquire for other formats.
All previous offers of 2023 Bordeaux can be found here.
Producer Profile
Château Canon, St.-Émilion
Château Canon is a Premiers Grands Crus Classés (B) estate in the commune of St.-Émilion. The name most likely derives from the swashbuckling Jacques Kanon, a privateer who made his money capturing (among others) English ships in the channel and futher afield. He bought Canon in 1760 and built the château in 1767.
Today Canon is owned by the Chanel Group, along with its neighbour Berliquet and Rauzan-Ségla in Margaux. Nicholas Audebert is the technical director and Thomas Duclot is the consultant. Audebert has overseen a renovation of the estates since 2012 and quality has risen rapidly.
| RED | 2023 | Château Canon | 75cl | £537 per case of 6 | Château Canon 2023 / / 75cl £537 per case of 6 |
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Tasting Notes"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. 94-96 points" Neal Martin, Vinous.com------"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. 96 points" janeanson.com------"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. 96-98 points" William Kelley, RobertParker.com------"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! 98-100 points" Lisa Perotti-Brown, The Wine Independent------"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. 99-100 points" jamessuckling.com |
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