Chateau Canon 2012

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "Medium to deep garnet colored, the 2012 Canon is a little closed to begin, soon opening to deliver baked plums, dried mulberries, and mince pie scents with touches of sauteed herbs, tobacco, and tar. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with muscular, tight-knit fruit, supported by ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing long and minerally. It needs time!"

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Tasted from several bottles in recent months, the 2012 Canon is a stupendous wine for the vintage and if anything, it appears to be improving with each encounter. It clearly serves up more than enough volume and fruit intensity on the nose compared to the impressive 2011 Canon: it is very pure with black cherries, wild strawberry, asphalt and blood orange. This is very well defined and beautifully focused. The palate is medium-bodied, silky smooth and with that thrilling sense of frisson. There is so much vivacity wound up inside this Saint Emilion that it would not surprise me if it turns out to be one of the very best in 2012. Tasted January 2017."

WEINWISSER: "Dunkles Granat, recht satt in der Mitte, rubiner Rand. Eigenwillig, laktischer Beginn, viel Holunder, deutlich im schwarzbeerigen Bereich, was man auch von den Schokonoten behaupten kann. Im Gaumen mit grossem Charme und vielen Finessen, wunderschön balanciert. Die grossen alten Canon- Zeiten sind wieder voll da!"

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2012 Canon is a rich, smoky, meaty 2012 that checks in as blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. Ripe black cherries, melted licorice, chocolate, and a touch of scorched earth all emerge from this classic, structured effort that has terrific concentration, a pure, backward style, ripe tannin, and a great finish. It’s nowhere near ready for primetime (this wine didn’t start to open up until the second day after opening) and needs a solid 5-7 years of cellaring but will see its 30th birthday in fine form."

JAMES SUCKLING: "A red with blueberry, blackberry and walnut character. Chocolate too. Medium to full body, fine tannins and a fresh finish. This is tight and dense. Extremely polished tannins and a long finish. Another 2001."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Barrel sample. This dense, extracted wine has dark coffee and bitter chocolate flavors that are followed by wood and tannins. The fruit is still obscured, and may need many years for its dark character to emerge. "

DECANTER: "Cabernet Franc has grown in importance here, representing 30% of the blend, giving perfume and structure and creamy, well-balanced texture but relatively light body."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Crushed stone, espresso, truffle and roasted plum create the already complex aromas. On the palate, the wine is soft, medium/full bodied with a sweet, spicy, elegant, finesse styled, soft, black cherry and thyme finish."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Pretty rich nose with great warmth and unctuosity. Clean, refreshing finish. Medium weight and a fair amount of tannin for future development."