Château Canon 2019 is a standout Saint-Émilion that has earned critical acclaim across the board, solidifying its place among the Right Bank's elite. With layered aromas, refined structure, and mineral-driven elegance, it represents the pinnacle of Canon’s modern renaissance—combining precision winemaking with a terroir rich in limestone and history.

The Wine Advocate | RP 97
Published: Apr 7, 2022
Drink: 2029-2065

The 2019 Canon has turned out brilliantly in bottle, wafting from the glass with complex aromas of raspberries and red plums mingled with notions of raw cocoa, dark chocolate, pencil shavings and rose petals. Medium to full-bodied, seamless and multidimensional, it's one of the most refined, elegant right bank wines of the vintage, with a deep core of fruit, beautifully refined tannins, lively acids and a long, perfumed finish. This is a superb achievement for Nicolas Audebert and his team.

In the last few years, this sleeping giant has well and truly reawakened, and the 2019 seems to me the finest Canon that Nicolas Audebert and his team have yet produced. Extensive replanting between 1996 and 2003, overseen by Audebert's predecessor, John Kolasa, saw some 50% of the estate's 22 hectares replaced. The fact that these vines are now arriving at full maturity surely goes some way to accounting for Canon's contemporary renaissance. Now, the team is working on restructuring the rest, combining massal selections and clones. Viticulture is thoughtful, with cover crops across the estate, and the terroir itself is relatively homogeneous: solid limestone covered by some 0.25-0.7 meters of clay, with a more or less uniform exposition on Saint-Émilion's plateau. There's also one small parcel in the town itself and another by Berliquet. Today, the vineyard is planted with about 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, and there are no plans to radically alter that. Winemaking privileges finesse over power, though a certain richness and texture can be taken for granted with a site like this, and maturation is in 50% new oak (mostly from Taransaud, Emptos, Sylvain and Quintessence).

Decanter | D 97
Published: Oct 31, 2023
Drink: 2026-2046

Canon has been on an amazing run since 2015, and the 2019 continues this performance. Carries 14.5% alcohol with ease. Complex aromas and flavours of spices, moccha, smoky notes, liquorice and dark cherry/blackberry fruit. Freshness from the abundant acidity and mineral notes give the wine a profound elegance despite the sumptuous texture. Fully deserves its 1er Grand Cru Classé B classification.
Closure: Cork
Alcohol: 14.50%
Body: Full
Oak: Oaked
Grapes: 26% Cabernet Franc 74% Merlot

JamesSuckling.com | JS 97
Published: Jan 8, 2022

Blackberries, blueberries and dark chocolate with bark, mushrooms and chalk. Lavender, too. Full-bodied with firm tannins that are polished and velvety. White pepper, gesso and crushed stone. It’s full-bodied and layered with tightness and focus and a long finish. It’s solid and stalwart, as usual. Reminds me of the very special 1955. One for the cellar. Give this until 2026 to see what it really has.

Jancisrobinson.com | JR 17.5+
Published: Jun, 2020
Drink: 2027-2045

"Refined, perfumed nose. Vibrant, juicy fruit with fine texture and tannins. Palate-cleansing finish. Total harmony. Another strong effort from this estate.

Chateaucanon.com

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.

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.