May 5, 2024 - The nose on this was mostly oak - lacking nuance. On the palate, it was remarkably elegant and balanced despite the 15% abv. The fruit is very ripe, but not overripe for my palate, and it retained nice freshness. The finish is outstanding - with tannins supporting, but not drying things out. It's a very nice wine (I don't love the high abv, but I guess that's just the nature of 2010), but if I had more I would hold for another 10 years.
May 2, 2024 - My last of these; I was a bit shocked at how good this was, considering my previous uneven encounters. This had breathtaking, ethereal fruit, that danced on the palate due to the beautiful acidity of the vintage. Everything was so vibrant and alive. I tasted this alongside the remnants of the '14 vintage which I had opened two days earlier. This was a significant step up from that vintage, which was a bit more earthy and withdrawn, but still held up quite well on day three. This struck me as a testament to how important it can be to have patience on these Bordeaux, for them to come around. I confess I typically open them too early.
April 2, 2024 - Aerated: 4hrs. As with other reviews: powerful, dark, rich, thick full bodied viscosity, fruit is subdued, needs more time. The structure is there just needs time to get to the level of maturity where subtle complexities will be prevalent. Will try again next year. Paired with: Gigot d’Agneau boneless roasted leg of lamb with brown butter flageolet beans.
March 26, 2024 - Canon vs. Duffau-Lagarrosse 2009-2020 tasted blind (Fribourg): Dark ruby, expressive nose of blue fruit with dark cherries. Polished palate, caressing and rich, but stays pleasant. Not the last word on complexity but lovely and complete.
March 25, 2024 - Vertical of Canon vs Beasejour Duffau Lagarrosse (Fribourg): Vertical of Beausejour Duffau Lagarrosse vs Canon vs selected pirates 2005-2020. Main takeaways : i/ Canon trumps Beausejour overall, especially in more recent ones. ii/ Canon tends to be lighter-footed, more delicate while Beausejour is typically more extracted and ripe. iii/ St Emillion clearly struggles with the hotter vintages a few years on with 2005 the low-light, already exhibiting beef juice elements. iv/ best wines were Canon 2015 (95), 2019 and 2020 (94 each). Summary of wines and scores included in the tasting story.
Tasting note:
Ripe red berry, decent level of extraction, floral top notes of roses, a bit of earth and leather, mineral layer of iodine. Fresh acidity, slightly chewy but otherwise soft tannins. However the fruit here felt slightly overripe and cooked. My impression was there’s not much farther to go here even though the structure would warrant more long term aging.
February 23, 2024 - In the heart of Bordeaux, amidst the rolling vineyards and storied châteaux, there lies a wine that whispers of romance, adventure, fame, and fortune—a symphony in a bottle, the 2010 Château Canon.
Forgive me my maidens and gentile followers, I was desperate and between contracts and as such was broke as a joke. With no working CC, I had no choice but to force this open…….way too soon I might add, but what a delight it was.
As I uncorked this elixir of dreams, memories of a bygone spring evening flooded my senses, transporting me back to the estate of Opus One, a 2011 saturday summer, where a young french maiden and I whiled away the hours under a long sunset, three bottles of this exquisite nectar our faithful companions until the sun came up. Luring her with my friend's silver Alpha Romeo convertible and a night at Allegria the memories will remain forever.
Though she didn’t speak a tad of English with the help of our waiter she confided she was traveling with her family to Opus One for two weeks. As a showoff I would love to give the last name, but good lord she is married to a prince now…. I shant not.
And that was this wine is; a princess.
The 2010 Château Canon is not merely a wine; it is a tale woven with threads of passion and intrigue.
For me, its origins trace back to the hallowed backseat of Rothschilds Rolls. According to my princess, the case twas a gift bestowed upon the titan of wealth and influence by Alain Wertheimer along with a case of Chanel crap. So there the case was, parked in Philippe’s Royce parked at Opus. Yes brothers and sisters I did parkakith of three bottles, its contents destined for a serendipitous encounter with two souls yearning for adventure. Sorry Alain, but the statute has run out and I was in need of adventure.
As I take my first sip, the symphony of flavors dances upon my palate, each note a melody of its own. The aroma tantalizes, with hints of blackcurrant, cherry, and a whisper of vanilla—a fragrance reminiscent of that fateful spring day when time stood still in the embrace of vineyard whispers.
At first sip, one is greeted by an explosion of ripe blackcurrant, luscious cherry, and succulent plum—a vibrant medley of dark fruits that dance across the tongue. These primary flavors are complemented by subtle hints of blackberry and raspberry, adding depth and dimension to the wine's profile.
This subtle spiciness adds a layer of complexity to the wine, infusing it with warmth and depth.
As the wine continues to evolve on the palate, notes of vanilla and cedar emerge, imparting a luxurious velvety texture that coats the mouth in a blanket of silk. These oak-derived flavors are seamlessly integrated, contributing to the wine's overall harmony and balance. For the hopeless romantic, this wine is a love story in itself, each sip a declaration of undying affection. Its velvety texture caresses the senses, leaving a trail of warmth in its wake, much like the touch of a lover's hand on a cool evening breeze.
As an adventurer at heart, I find myself drawn to the depths of this wine, exploring its nuances with the curiosity of a wanderer discovering uncharted territories. Each swirl of the glass reveals a new layer of complexity, a hidden treasure waiting to be unearthed. It is a journey of discovery, a quest for the unknown, with the 2010 Château Canon as my steadfast companion.
For the lover of fame and fortune, this wine is a taste of luxury, a glimpse into the world of opulence and grandeur. Its pedigree speaks volumes, a testament to the heights that can be reached with determination and ambition. As I raise my glass to the heavens, I toast to the dreams that dare to defy convention, to the aspirations that know no bounds.
And for the damn good musician in me, this wine is a melody waiting to be played, a symphony waiting to be composed. Its harmonious balance of flavors sings to the soul, igniting a passion that transcends the boundaries of time and space. With each sip, I am transported to a world where music and wine intertwine, where notes dance upon the palate in perfect harmony.
In the 2010 Château Canon, I find not just a wine, but a companion on the journey of life—a testament to love, adventure, fame, and fortune. As I bid farewell to the last drop, I am reminded that some experiences are meant to be savored, cherished, and remembered for eternity. And so, I raise my glass to the memories of 2010, to the young maiden at Opus One, to spring days and long sunsets, and to the magic of three bottles of Château Canon—truly, a gift fit for royalty.
Thanks to Phillipe and Alain. I'm grateful.
NOTE TO SELF. SOUNDS STRANGE BUT 30 MINUTES AFTER DECANTING WE KILLED IT. AN HOUR LATE INDESCRIBABLE….HOLD 2040.
December 9, 2023 - Perhaps it needed more time to open but we had a group over and we were having fun so we destroyed the bottle. Quite muted but still very round and soft. Could tell there was potential.
December 2, 2023 - This bottle I had sampled using a Coravin over a year ago, so I was worried how it would taste.
Well, perhaps just a slight hint of rustiness could be detected.
But actually utterly gorgeous opening up overtime in glass, as enjoyed with two friends yesterday evening : at first lots of black and blue fruit, combining ripeness, and cool refinement, then the appreciation for smooth tannin as well as excellent if subtle structure, built for aging - and indeed this was perhaps “infanticide”, but it became sumptuous in a subtle way as coming from the limestone plateau, this famous terrroir of Saint Emilion, which makes Canon so well loved by fans like me. Overtime, it developed floral aspects: I got violet also white spring flower.
The oak component is beautifully integrated, but present in a harmonious manner, not at all obstructive, but rather adding to youthful complexity - and a very long finish. The acidity was ideal for balance, as the wine communicates verve as well as richness.
Château Canon 2010 is, of course, a young Wine and it will gain in complexity with more tertiary aspects (like truffle) in maybe 10 years time, so no need to open it now! But because I had sampled it with the Coravin over year ago I wanted to see how it tasted and it actually proves that Coravin even over one year later does not obviously negatively affect one’s experience of a wine as fine as this. 🙂
“Only” 96 because of an ever so slight rusticity perhaps due to the Coravin use over one year ago.
The wine is a blend of 75% Merlot and 25% Cabernet Franc, cropped at 35 hectoliters per hectare, hitting 15% natural alcohol, but given the wine’s freshness, the balance is astonishing. Was aged in 60% new oak.
November 29, 2023 - Had this a few nights ago. From memory, hot and youthful with big jammy fruits. Foundational flavors are otherwise great, but for me this falls a bit heavy on the Parkerized side of the equation, if you can say that about at Grand Cru from St. Emilion. 15% ABV may preclude this from achieving a higher score, but will see what happens over the next decade or so. Next bottle 2025+
October 11, 2023 - Nose of oak, Mulled blackberry and faint cola.
Licorice, blackberry, and faint clove up front. Black cherry, toasted vanilla and faint basil on silky tannins on the middle. Tobacco cola and raspberry on a menthol like finish.
Elegant light bodied wine with sweet and lasting acidity.