Chateau Canon La Gaffeliere 2012

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Proprietor Comtes von Neipperg has done an incredible job with this estate, turning things around from a vegetal, diluted and undernourished wine in the 1970s and 1980s to something that has gotten stronger and strong ever since 1988. The dense ruby/purple 2012 offers pure blackcurrant and black cherry fruit along with some notes of Christmas spices and earth. It is full-bodied and opulent, with light tannins in the finish. This is a beauty of impeccable balance, great purity and texture. Kudos to von Neipperg, who rarely ever seems to make a mistake. Anticipated maturity: now-2030. The final blend tips the scales at 13.5% from an equal-part blend of Merlot and Cabernet Franc."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Beautiful nose of strawberries, cherries and cedar notes. Shaved chocolate, too. Full body, ultra-fine tannins and a juicy and fruity finish. Persistent on the palate. Drink from 2017."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The 2012 Canon-la-Gaffeliere is an elegant, floral, and spice-driven Saint-Emilion offering full-bodied richness, fine, silky tannin and impeccable balance. It’s one of the more classic, elegant 2012s that’s going to benefit from another few years of cellaring and have two decades of overall longevity."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Floral, truffle, licorice, cocoa and blackberries on the nose. The wine is full bodied and concentrated, with round, silky textures and sweet, fresh, ripe dark berries in the finish. Still young, 5-8 years will add a lot of complexity and more softness to the wine."

WINE SPECTATOR: "This has a lovely core of pure, fresh, well-defined boysenberry, blackberry and plum fruit, which glides beautifully over polished alder and vanilla notes while hints of violet and anise fill in on the finish. A lovely whiff of tobacco chimes in at the very end. This should be fun to cellar. A big wine that goes with the flow of the vintage and doesn't try to overdo it. Best from 2018 through 2027. 4,167 cases made."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Dark crimson. Appetising nose with lots of ripeness. Very sweet and round and winning. Just the right side of overripe but it works, if slightly to a recipe."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "90–92. Barrel sample. This tannic wine is very dry and extracted. It doesn't have the weight to sustain this intense dryness, however, suggesting potential for a fine fruitiness with age. Dark on the palate, it finishes quite dry."

DECANTER: "An equal share of Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Fragrant and floral. Attractive mid-palate fruit then long, firm finish. Well judged. Drinking Window 2020 - 2030"