2001, 2005, 2006 Canon, St-Emilion Tasting Lot

“The 2001 Canon is a vintage that I have not encountered for a few years, and it was the surprise package of this dinner, exceeding my expectations and those of others. Impressive red berry fruit on the nose, wild strawberry and black plum, leans more towards black fruit as it unfolds in the glass, with touches of pencil box and a distinct marine influence. The palate is medium-bodied, finely-tuned with chiseled tannins. Much more minerally than anticipated, it fans out wonderfully on the finish while maintaining absolute control. It's not a flashy Canon, but one that is now peaking. (NM)” (02/2024)

“Shows a stronger singed alder note, with more aromatic details of black tea and mulled spice, giving way to a maturing core of macerated blackberry and raspberry fruit. Delivers woodsy hints through the finish, presenting excellent length and a buried chalky accent. (JM)” (01/2017)

“Fresh figs, salted crackers, blond tobacco, sweet red berries, liqourice root, all delivered with fresh acidities and tapering off to a gentle finish. Beautiful limestone character coming through also, in a vintage that was naturally sculpted and suited the character of this location. John Kolasa director, and at this point five years after the purchase of Canon by the Wertheimer brothers of Chanel.” (06/2022)

“The 2001 Canon is an outstanding example of this fine vintage, though the wine is still several years away from truly starting to blossom and drink with real generosity. The fairly primary nose shows very good promise in its blend of red and black cherries, menthol, woodsmoke, a beautiful base of limestone soil and just a touch of new oak around the edges. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied, focused and tightly-knit, with a sappy core of fruit, ripe, firm tannins and a long, tangy and youthful finish. This wine is still slumbering away in hibernation and needs a few more years before it will start to stir. (JG) 93+” (05/2016)

“The 2001 Château Canon is drinking beautifully, with a fully mature feel in its mostly red fruits, spice, and floral notes, with some undeniable minerality in the background. It brings impressive ripeness, is medium-bodied, and has a supple, elegant mouthfeel and outstanding length. This classy, elegant, ready-to-go beauty should be drunk over the coming decade.” (03/2024)

“There’s a clarity and harmony to this wine now, with subtle aromas of berries, earth and hints of bitter chocolate. Medium-to-full body with fine tannins and a clean, fresh finish. Very fine indeed.” (06/2013)

“Deep garnet-brick in color, the 2001 Canon has a subtle nose of leather, rusty nails, and spice box before opening out to fragrant notes of dried cherries, potpourri, and star anise with a hint of tobacco leaf. The medium-bodied palate has understated, delicate, savory flavors with a chewy texture and just enough freshness, finishing on a stewed tea note.” (03/2024)

“Meat juices, black fruit, clove, dark chocolate, even a hint of coffee. The tannin is still intact, giving fine grip on the palate. Expansive and persistent, there is lots of volume here, without being overblown. 18/20 points (RH)” (05/2022)

“Just now starting to come out of its shell, the 2005 Château Canon is a blockbuster of a Canon that has so much to love. Ripe blackcurrants, darker cherries, graphite, and scorched earth notes all define the aromatics (it needs air to show at its best), and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness backed by a stacked mid-palate, building, ripe, polished tannins, and incredible length on the finish. It’s clearly in the early stages of its prime drinking window yet is going to evolve gracefully over the coming two decades in cold cellars. It doesn’t have the sheer precision of modern-day Canon releases, but it brings more opulence and oomph. It's a brilliant bottle of wine.” (04/2024)

“The 2005 Canon is deep garnet-brick in color. It needs a lot of swirling to uncover notes of stewed black cherries, mulberries, and boysenberry preserves plus wafts of rose oil, cloves, and unsmoked cigars. The medium to full-bodied palate is still very youthful, with a firm backbone of fine-grained tannins and bold freshness framing the muscular fruit, finishing long and mineral-laced. This is nice now with a long decant, or cellar for another 20 years! (LPB)” (03/2024)

“Tasted at the Château Canon vertical, the 2005 Canon is evolving into a quite gorgeous Saint Emilion. One can still discern those brown spices infiltrating the ripe red and black fruit. There is fine mineralité here, great focus, perhaps just a hint of dried blood that develops with time. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, ripe tannin. It is a very complex Saint Emilion with immense purity and style, a wine that you have to keep coming back to in order to understand. It's at that pivotal stage between primary and secondary notes, the red and black fruit being overtaken by cedar, morels and a touch of game. It gently lifts and fans out to a quite captivating finish. Dare I say that the 2005 Canon is the pick of the three over 2009 and 2010? There...I've said it...it is a quite brilliant wine. (NM)” (03/2017)

“Aromas of fresh cep mushrooms, berries, spices, roses, and sous bois, give way to hints of milk chocolate and vanilla. Full and rich, with beautifully balanced tannins and a long finish. Loads going on in this wine, yet it remains subtle and beautiful.” (05/2012)

“The 2005 Canon is an absolute gem and, like many 2005s, is beginning to shed its tannins and become more approachable and terroir-driven. Red berry fruit, undergrowth, hints of singed leather and warm gravel manifest on the nose, plus just a touch of hot bricks in the background, and perhaps terra-cotta. The palate is not muscular but shows fine backbone. The tannins, having softened in the last couple of years, frame a mélange of red and black fruit intermixed with bay leaf and clove. Kudos to winemaker John Kolasa, who oversaw this vintage and was instrumental in the estate’s rejuvenation. (NM)” (07/2021)

“A relatively discreet nose initially that developed into something heady. It was followed by a fresh, savoury, silky palate. Much gentler-textured than the Gazin 2005 served alongside. Complete. 18/20 points (JR)” (02/2025)

“I have been a big fan of the 2006 Canon since its was unveiled as a finished wine in New York a few years ago at the Union des Grands Crus tasting. This most recent bottle was simply outstanding, as it soars from the glass in a beautiful aromatic mélange of black cherries, a touch of chocolate, cigar smoke, a complex base of soil tones, tobacco leaf and a judicious framing of new wood. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and quite plush on the attack, with lovely nascent complexity, great focus, a fine core and great length and grip on the suavely tannic finish. I fully understand why the 2005 gets all the hype, but the 2006 Canon is a great vintage for this super property- make no mistake about it! 93+” (07/2010)

“The 2006 Château Canon has a vivid, kirsch and wild strawberry bouquet with touches of orange zest and marmalade, a touch of mushroom in the background. The palate is medium-bodied with supple ripe black cherry and blackcurrant fruit, sage and melted tar. There is wonderful structure here, superb salinity, completely fulfilling the promise it demonstrated out of bottle. Perhaps yes, I was a little over-enthusiastic at that time, but after ten years it has foraged wonderful focus and vivacity. Seek this out. (NM)” (05/2016)

“A big, dark, rich wine with an impressively opulent structure allied to fresh, bright Merlot character. The flavors of black berry juice are followed by chocolate, bitter coffee and vibrant acidity, which gives freshness to the finish. (RV)” (03/2009)

“As with many 2006 wines, this has held its colour well. The nose has a sweet edge that is very attractive, with cappuccino notes rather than vanilla bean. A light floral freshness picks things up nicely after the first attack and keeps interest flowing through the main palate. (JA)” (06/2016)

“Subtle aromas of chocolate, orange peel and flowers. Full- to medium-bodied, with balanced, silky tannins and a pretty finish. Not a big wine, but pleasing and friendly. Subtle and beautiful. (JS)” (03/2009)

“Red-ruby. Slightly inky black raspberry, blueberry and violet aromas perked up by violet and pepper. Suave and vinous on entry, then supple and on the cool side in the middle, with concentrated, moderately ripe flavors of dark fruits, minerals and bitter chocolate. Rather stylish Saint-Emilion, relying more on an edge of acidity than on its dusty tannins for shape and structure. This has put on weight since I tasted it in barrel. (ST)” (05/2009)