2015 - Canon, Saint-Emilion

The 2015 Canon was an epochal wine for the rejuvenated Saint-Émilion estate. Now at ten years old, this has a fresh and vital nose with more mineralité than most of its peers thanks to the limestone soils. Raspberry, wilted flowers, dried orange peel and subtle pencil box aromas define the nose. The palate is outstanding, with finely chiseled tannins and dark berry fruit mixed with allspice and white pepper. This is very harmonious with ample grip on the finish (unlike some of its peers) and it lingers long on the aftertaste. The 2015 is simply a magnificent Canon with a very long future ahead. Tasted at the 2015 Ten-Year-On tasting at Bordeaux Index.

This was the vintage when the world sat up and took notice of Canon, and at the ten year point you can see why. Umami, flesh, poise, precision, crushed raspberry, black cherry, nectarine, rose petals, violet, saffron, hovering between primary and tertiary, just beautiful, with decades ahead of it. A one point upscore from the last time I tasted in 2021 - just really growing into itself. Nicolas Audebert director, in his first full vintage, 42hl/yield, 70% new oak for ageing, harvest September 14 to October 4.

Deep garnet in color, the 2015 Canon needs a bit of coaxing to bring out fragrant notes of kirsch, baked plums, and boysenberry preserves followed by hints of garrigue, star anise, and Sichuan pepper. The full-bodied palate offers great tension and firm chewy tannins to counter the opulent black fruit, finishing with great length.