Château Canon 2001 1er Grand Cru Classé

This famous St-Émilion is a 1er Grand Cru Classé property, planted with 30% Cabernet Franc and 70% Merlot, is owned by Chanel who also owns Château Rauzan-Ségla in Margaux. A classic Canon vintage, meaning one without excess, where the precision of the winemaking is able to shine. 2001 was the last year before the introduction of manual sorting (although there was always manual harvesting) but it doesn't seem to have done any harm. This is rich yet nuanced, with a seam of fresh minerality running alongside the merlot and cabernet franc fruit; cassis and redcurrant but just starting to head towards tertiary truffle-and-liquorice flavours in the best possible way. A wine that keeps an elegant distance, encourages you to take your time.

95 Jane Anson, Decanter.com, December 2015