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.

Composed of 72% Merlot and 28% Cabernet Franc and aged for 18 months in 70% new and 30% one-year-old barrels, the 2015 Canon is boldly fruited with blackberry preserves, black cherry compote, fruitcake, mocha and plum preserves with suggestions of Indian spices, licorice and black olives. Full-bodied and packed with ripe, rich dried berries and exotic spice layers, it has a firm, slightly chewy structure and just enough freshness (the pH is 3.78), finishing long and savory. Give it another 2-3 years of cellaring to soften its edges and allow its flavor spectrum to fully emerge, and drink it over the next 20 to 25+ years.

Tasted blind. Mid ruby. Light, clean, fresh nose. Sculpted palate with quite a bit of drought influence: signs of dried fruit. Youthful. Ambitious. Very long. (JR)