2005 Chateau Canon

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. Tasted October 2015. ~ (95) Neal Martin, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 3-31-2017

~ (95) Antonio Galloni , Vinous 4-1-2021

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. This needs time. Pull the cork after 2015. ~ (94) James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com 12-24-2011

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) Jancis Robinson, JancisRobinson.com 2-12-2025

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. ~ (96) Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com 4-6-2024