- CRITICAL REVIEWS
- WINEMAKER NOTES
JD
94
Jeb Dunnuck
Also brilliant, and actually not far off the 2005, the 2011 Canon is a nominal blend of mostly Merlot with 25-30% Cabernet Franc brought up in a mix of new and used French oak. Its youthful purple/plum color is followed by a sweet bouquet of red and black currants, kirsch, licorice, chalky minerality, and ample Asian inspired spices. Rich, full-bodied, and beautifully textured, it’s still youthful but drinking well, and has another two decades of prime drinking ahead of it. It’s a terrific 2011!
Reviewed by Jeb Dunnuck, Issue date: June 2020. Drinking window: 2020 - 2040.
RP
93
Robert Parker Wine Advocate
The 2011 Canon is a blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. It is undoubtedly one of the stars of the vintage, certainly one of the strongest offerings from Saint Emilion. The nose is bright, animated and playful with copious red cherries, fresh strawberry and dark plum aromas bursting from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, backward compared to more extrovert Saint Emilions such as La Mondotte—a tensile, poised Saint Emilion that is destined to last longer than its peers. Classic in style, endearing and mineral-driven, this is a superb wine from the estate. This is a supreme success courtesy of former winemaker, John Kolasa. Tasted May 2015.
Reviewed by Neal Martin, Issue date: March 2017. Drinking window: 2018 - 2035.
2011 Chateau Canon Saint-Emilion Grand Cru, France
Canon’s wines reflect the huge rigour of the saint-emilion plateau. Freshness hones the huge voluptuousness. A pure, clean nectar that draws all of the minerality’s tension. A fine wine. The protruding power of the vine rooted in the rock.
PERSONNALITY
Château Canon offers a masterful, full, direct personality. The opulence of the fruit creates tension with the mineral freshness. A game of light and shadows between the quarries and the plateau. Reflecting the vineyard’s density of sunlight.
Indomitable fullness. A favourite. Ageing potential.
THE TENSION & MINERALITY OF THE PLATEAU
This refined, slender and vertical vintage owes its balance to the sophisticated structure from the limestone soils.
VINTAGE 2011
The 2011 vintage is a powerful, straightforward wine. On the nose, the black fruit dominates (blackcurrant and black cherry) and blends with spicy aromas such as white pepper, along with aromas of dark chocolate. The minerality of our terroir expresses itself beautifully. This well-structured wine with good body and length should have excellent cellaring potential.
THE VINTAGE
WEATHER CONDITIONS
Winter: very little rainfall
Spring: hot, dry and sunny
Summer: bright sunny days, interspersed with storms
Autumn: mild then hot
HARVEST TIME
Merlot: from 13 to 16 September 2011
Cabernet Franc: 16 and 17 September 2011
YIELD
36 hl / ha
AGEING
18 months with 70% new barrels
ALCOHOL LEVEL
13,5 %
pH
3,49
CHÂTEAU CANON BLENDING
70 % Merlot
30 % Cabernet Franc
CROIX CANON BLENDING
85 % Merlot
15 % Cabernet Franc
Winter: very little rainfall
Spring: hot, dry and sunny
Summer: bright sunny days, interspersed with storms
Autumn: mild then hot
HARVEST TIME
Merlot: from 13 to 16 September 2011
Cabernet Franc: 16 and 17 September 2011
YIELD
36 hl / ha
AGEING
18 months with 70% new barrels
ALCOHOL LEVEL
13,5 %
pH
3,49
CHÂTEAU CANON BLENDING
70 % Merlot
30 % Cabernet Franc
CROIX CANON BLENDING
85 % Merlot
15 % Cabernet Franc
CHÂTEAU CANON SURFACE AREA
34 hectares
SURFACE UNDER PRODUCTION
31.80 hectares, including 12 hectares dedicated
to Croix Canon
SOIL
Clay-limestone plateau
EXPOSURE OF THE VINEYARD
South/Southwest
DENSITY OF PLANTATION
Between 6,500 and 7,200 plants/ha
31.80 hectares, including 12 hectares dedicated
to Croix Canon
SOIL
Clay-limestone plateau
EXPOSURE OF THE VINEYARD
South/Southwest
DENSITY OF PLANTATION
Between 6,500 and 7,200 plants/ha
AVERAGE AGE OF THE VINES
30 years
GRAPE VARIETIES
70 % Merlot
30 % Cabernet Franc
HARVEST
By hand and transported into small crates
SORTING
Manual selection
30 years
GRAPE VARIETIES
70 % Merlot
30 % Cabernet Franc
HARVEST
By hand and transported into small crates
SORTING
Manual selection
VINIFICATION
Separate vinification, by vatting using gravity, into conical shaped stainless steel vats with a double walled system
for temperature control. Malolactic: 1/3 in new barrels and 2/3 in stainless steel vats.
AGEING
In French oak barrel, with a medium or medium-long toasting. Racking via the bunghole.
Fining with egg whites, depending on the vintage.
for temperature control. Malolactic: 1/3 in new barrels and 2/3 in stainless steel vats.
AGEING
In French oak barrel, with a medium or medium-long toasting. Racking via the bunghole.
Fining with egg whites, depending on the vintage.