2023 Château Canon

Based on 71% Merlot and 29% Cabernet Franc and aged 16-18 months in 50% new oak including three foudres, the 2023 Château Canon is a more medium-bodied, finesse-driven wine compared to its sibling Château Berliquet, which is always a bigger, richer wine. It offers red fruits, crushed stone, graphite, chalk, and floral notes on the nose. On the palate, it's focused, with good acidity, just about flawless balance, and a gorgeous finish. Give it 3-4 years if you can and this will be a classic Canon to enjoy over the following two decades. It reminds me slightly of the 2001. Tasted multiple times. Drink 2029-2046.

The 2023 Canon has really come together with élevage. Pliant and supple, the 2023 Canon is a wine of pure and total seduction. Crushed flowers, red cherry fruit, mint and blood orange all take shape in the glass. The 2023 doesn't quite have the dynamic energy of the very best years, but it comes close while also offering more early accessibility than those wines. Tasted three times.

The 2023 Canon takes time to open on the nose but reveals attractive red berry fruit, pressed flowers (violet) and a very light marine influence. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant tannins. A little spicier than I recall from barrel, with hints of cinnamon and sage, you can feel the tongue tingling after the wine has exited thanks to a pinch of cracked black pepper. Though the 2023 does not quite touch recent peaks, I appreciate the linearity of this Canon and it should age well in bottle.