CHATEAU CANON
Château Canon, located in Saint-Emilion, has belonged to the Wertheimer family since 1996. This is one of the oldest and most prestigious estates of the appellation. The estate joined the official 2012 classification of Saint-Emilion crus as Premier Grand Cru Classified “B”. Plus d'information
Château Canon: a great Bordeaux wine
In the limestone heights of Saint-Émilion, Château Canon aptly embodies the discreet excellence of the great names in Bordeaux wine. Grand Cru Classé B since the 1954 classification, this confidential estate has seduced connoisseurs and collectors of great wines from all over the world...
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90+
Robert Parker
90
Wine Spectator
CHATEAU CANON, 1948
Sold out -
88
Robert Parker
90
Wine Spectator
CHATEAU CANON, 1964
Sold out
Château Canon: a great Bordeaux wine
In the limestone heights of Saint-Émilion, Château Canon aptly embodies the discreet excellence of the great names in Bordeaux wine. Grand Cru Classé B since the 1954 classification, this confidential estate has seduced connoisseurs and collectors of great wines from all over the world for several centuries. Canon's reputation rests on the precision of its style, the depth of its vintages and the nobility of its terroir.
A legacy shaped by time
The history of the estate dates back to the 18th century, when Jacques Kanon, a former privateer, acquired a 13-hectare property on the outskirts of the medieval town in 1760.
At the heart of the 34-hectare vineyard, the vines sink their roots into an asteriated limestone plateau, identical to that on which Saint-Émilion rests. This terroir lends the wines a rare mineral freshness, a true Canon signature.
The grape varieties are mainly Merlot (62%), which brings fruitiness, smoothness, voluptuousness and suppleness to the wine, complemented by Cabernet Franc, which structures the blend with depth, finesse and freshness, resulting in a wine designed for very long ageing.
The Chanel era, excellence at the service of great wines
Since its acquisition in 1996 by the house of Chanel, Château Canon has seen its facilities renovated with respect for tradition and the original vine stocks. Following the purchase by the Wertheimer brothers, Canon restructured its vineyard, which had previously been neglected. To support this transition, two neighboring vineyards were acquired: 3.5 hectares from Château Curé-Bon and 12 hectares from Château Matras. Initially, the vineyard of Château Canon spanned 18 hectares, and with these acquisitions, it now totals 34 hectares.
Two years earlier, the Wertheimer brothers had acquired Château Rauzan-Segla. Then in 2017, a third château joined the Chanel portfolio: Château Berliquet, marking the brothers’ intention to establish themselves in the Bordeaux region and the world of wine.
Under the guidance of talented oenologist Nicolas Audebert, the estate has refined its style while preserving its authenticity since 2014. He puts it this way: “Canon is the pure, precise, and at the same time very charming expression of the clay-limestone terroirs. It’s a wine with a lot of identity, a very tight profile, of extreme class and sophistication.” The Château has been producing increasingly brilliant and precise vintages acclaimed by critics worldwide, as demonstrated by the 2022 vintage, rated 99–100 by Wine Advocate.
Château Canon is getting a facelift. The restoration, led by Peter Marino, brings a modern touch to the 18th-century building. He had previously been commissioned by personalities such as Andy Warhol and Giorgio Armani.
The greatest vintages of Château Canon to collect
For enthusiasts and connoisseurs of fine wines, Château Canon is a safe bet in Bordeaux’s Saint-Émilion appellation. Its wines captivate with the sensory emotion they evoke, their aromatic precision, and their remarkable evolution over time. Legendary vintages from Bordeaux and Saint-Émilion — 1982, 2000, 2010, 2016 as well as the highly successful 2020 and 2022 — grace the cellars of fine restaurants and collectors alike.
Château Canon 1982 received a score of 93/100 from Robert Parker, who described it as follows: “Dark ruby color with hints of violet and slight lightening at the rim, the Canon 1982 reveals aromas of crushed stone, blackcurrant, and blackcurrant jelly, along with dusty, earthy, and loamy notes. This is a full-bodied, powerful, slightly austere Saint-Émilion with moderately high tannins. Believe it or not, this 1982 has not yet reached full maturity.”
Château Canon 2000 received a respectable score of 90/100 from Wine Advocate, which praised it highly: “This elegant Saint-Émilion has blossomed over the last decade. After aging in barrel and being bottled, I thought it would be austere, but that’s not the case. It shows a deep ruby-purple color and generous aromas of black cherries, crushed stones, and earthy notes. Though not a grand cru, it is beautifully balanced and pure, revealing more depth and richness than I expected. Drink now and over the next 10 to 15 years.”
Château Canon 2010 shines with a 98/100 score from international magazine Decanter: “Bright, crystalline fruit aromas — juicy black cherry, ripe plum, and luscious blackberry — paired with artisanal dark chocolate, violet, and fresh tobacco leaves, make this wine incredibly complex and still very young. Its finely textured palate nearly conceals its power and density, with a freshness that balances its opulence, leading to a long finish. Serve with beef Wellington. Or cellar for 10 years to gain more tertiary aromas.”
Château Canon 2016 nears perfection according to The Wine Independent, with a score of 99/100: “Canon 2016 displays a deep garnet color. It offers vibrant aromas of Morello cherries, black raspberries, and fresh blueberries, alongside lilac, star anise, fallen leaves, and fragrant earth. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is beautifully balanced with finely matured tannins and harmonious freshness, supporting fragrant and complex fruit flavors, leading to a very long, mineral finish for this magnificent wine.”
Château Canon 2020 is considered by Bordeaux expert Jane Anson to be the best Right Bank wine of the 2020 vintage. As such, it earns a perfect score of 100/100, with this stunning description: “A breathtaking wine to share with friends — incredibly good. The structure and tannins are both subtle and masterfully controlled, giving way to raspberry, blueberry, and pomegranate aromas that fill the palate, followed by saline notes of oyster shell, pumice, and eclectic touches of mandarin peel and lemongrass. The finish is pure and juicy, with no frills. 50% new oak barrels, 3.53 pH. Harvested from September 4 to 23. 50% new oak, yield of 40 hl/ha. Thomas Duclos, consultant; Nicolas Audebert, director.”
Château Canon 2022 impresses with a perfect score of 100/100 by Wine Advocate: “Canon 2022 has proven brilliant in bottle. It opens with aromas of sweet raspberries, wild berries, and cherries, intertwined with notes of violet, pencil shavings, black truffle, and rose petals. It is full-bodied, deep, and concentrated, with a dense and enveloping fruit core supported by smooth, silky tannins, finishing with a long, saline finish. This is one of Canon’s most muscular and structured vintages in recent years, yet it retains its distinctive limestone character. As I wrote two years ago, this estate is currently producing its best vintages since the superb post-war series that preceded the 1956 frosts — and 2022 is indeed reminiscent of a modern version of one of those great years. 2030–2065.”
