2014 Croix Canon

The 2014 Croix Canon, the Deuxième Vin from Château Canon, offers a simple bouquet with redcurrant and cranberry aromas, perhaps missing a little personality and tension. The palate is medium-bodied with supple black fruit, crisp acidity, nicely structured with a slight tarriness towards the finish. Drink this now and over the next four or five years.

The 2014 Croix Canon, the estate's second wine, emerges from a parcel nestled between Berliquet, Vieux Château Mazerat and Angélus. A blast of dark red stone fruit, smoke, tar, licorice and earthiness hits the palate in a wine that is dense and powerful, yet also weightless and quite classic in conception. It is precisely those contrasts that make the Croix Canon so compelling. The Croix Canon is not sold en primeur, but when it is eventually released, it will be a must-buy.

The Croix Canon 2014, a blend of 91% Merlot and 9% Cabernet Franc, comes from a separate vineyard that belonged to Château Madras plus the young vines from Canon itself. It has a fragrant raspberry bouquet with a touch of limestone coming through. The palate is medium-bodied with chewy tannin, a little savory in the mouth, with nicely integrated 30% new oak coming through and lending weight on the finish.