2016 Château Canon

Aromas of dried raspberries, dried flowers, cedar, tobacco, earth and some primary fruit. The palate has wonderful definition and a medium body. It’s chalky, with precise red fruit that is slowly receding, showing a bit of earth. The polished, focused tannins complement the vibrant fruit. Drink or hold. 10 Years On retrospective.

Love the rose petals, iris flowers and pumice stone tannins, combinating to give texture and aromatic richness through the palate. Steel,grip and oyster shell salinity speak of the liestone soils in purity and fragrance, more than many of its niehbours, giving an auterity but also vivid characrer and long life ahead. Great stuff. A full 1% less alcohol than 2015, but no less concentration and power. 45hl/h yield, 3.57ph, 65% new oak for ageing.

The 2016 Canon has a clean and fresh nose. The fruit profile is a mixture of red and black with just a hint of black truffle and licorice (the latter a trait that I had not picked up before). The palate is medium-bodied with finer tannins than the bottle four years ago, has a little more assertiveness and grip in situ, and is perhaps firmer and prepared for long-term maturation. It's precise on the finish. I would give this another few years in bottle. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the Icons of Bordeaux dinner at Legacy Records in New York.