In the opulent tapestry of oenological delights, where each bottle holds the promise of a new adventure, the 1986 Château Canon surprised me. I thought it was a mere 91 before it was popped, but it emerges as a luminary, casting its radiant glow upon the palates of the discerning.
As a member of upper society, an adventurer, a scoundrel, a showoff, and a rock musician, I've navigated the labyrinthine corridors of taste and indulgence, seeking the elixir that can stir the soul and ignite the senses.
On the palate, the 1986 Château Canon unfolds with remarkable finesse and complexity. Velvety smooth, yet imbued with a profound depth, it coats the tongue with layers of luscious dark fruits, intertwining with nuances of tobacco, leather, and a subtle hint of earthiness. The wine's structure is impeccable, with finely integrated tannins providing a sturdy backbone that carries the flavors to a crescendo.
On the palate, the 1986 Château Canon reveals its true mastery, weaving a tapestry of complexity and finesse. Layers of ripe berries and plums dance upon the tongue, accompanied by notes of tobacco and cedarwood, evoking memories of crackling fires and clandestine encounters in the Alaskan wilderness. Yet, there is a subtlety to its richness, a nuance that speaks of sophistication and refinement, much like the delicate balance between passion and restraint.
With each sip, the wine unfurls like a lover's embrace, enveloping the palate in a symphony of flavors. Ruby-red in hue, it beckons with a bouquet redolent of black cherries, cassis, and a hint of vanilla, reminiscent of the sweet whispers exchanged beneath the Northern Lights.
Please dear brothers and sisters, let me transport you to a night of unparalleled enchantment, a night where the 1986 Château Canon became more than just a wine—it became a conduit for the most intimate of experiences. Picture a Saturday evening in Girdwood, the air pregnant with anticipation as the Northern Lights shimmered overhead like celestial dancers. In the cozy confines of a ski resort lodge, I found myself entwined in a whirlwind romance with a Latina goddess from Venezuela, her fiery spirit igniting a flame within me that burned brighter than the midnight sun.
As we uncorked two bottles of the 1986 Château Canon, its crimson elixir a reflection of our passion, we embarked on a journey that would etch itself into the annals of memory. With hearts aflame and spirits unbound, we ascended to the summit of the ski resort, where a rustic cabin stood sentinel beneath the star-studded sky. With the audacity befitting a scoundrel and the bravado of a showoff, we broke through the threshold of propriety and into the sanctum of our desires.
Beneath the canopy of stars, amidst the heady aroma of aged oak and wildflowers, we surrendered ourselves to the primal rhythm of love. Good Lord she got me hooked on Latina and it's this memory that enveloped my senses as I popped this wine tonight. The 1986 Château Canon bore witness to our passion, its velvety texture and lingering finish a testament to the ecstasy that enveloped us. In that fleeting moment, time stood still, and we were but two souls intertwined in a dance as old as the universe itself.
As I raise my glass to the memory of that fateful night, the 1986 Château Canon becomes more than just a wine; it becomes a vessel for the stories we carry within us, a testament to the transformative power of love and adventure. In its depths, I find not only the taste of a bygone era but also the echoes of a life lived with passion and purpose. And so, dear connoisseur, I invite you to join me in raising a toast to the 1986 Château Canon—a wine that transcends the boundaries of time and space, weaving tales of romance and adventure with every sip. Cheers to life, love, and the pursuit of epicurean delights!
NOTE TO SELF: WINE SURPRISED ME. OPENED LIKE A YOUNG MAIDEN AFTER THREE HOURS TO REVEAL A WINE THAT WAS AMAZING. DECANT THREE HOURS (MAYBE FOUR WAS OPENING AS i DRANK IT)
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Revisiting an old friend... Almost 3 years after my last bottle, this was again a super showing and the wine is still in its peak drinking window for my taste. Slow ox'ed for about 2h. This delivers all one hopes for in a mature Bordeaux, beautifully balanced and aromatic with cigar box, leather and still some dark fruit. 80s Canon are great, whether its 85, 86 or 89 (yet to try the 82).
Dégusté durant 2 jours, il ne s'est pas fatigué du tout. Bel équilibre, séduisant, un beau fruit rouge qui lui donne encore un air de jeunesse, mais le petit tabac fait remarquer que c'est un vin à maturité. Je l'ai trouvé superbe, je m'attendais à moins vu le millésime.
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Tim Bday lunch at GW-IT. Tasted blind. Drank in Gabriel Standart. Guessed correctly as Right Bank Bordeaux but thought it was 10 years younger than 1986. Appearance deep intensity, garnet colour. Some fine sediments. Legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensiy, with aromas of black cherries, dark red plums, dark tertiary earth, hint of violets, bit of graphite. Developed. On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, medium- alcohol (12.5%), soft fully integrated tannins, barely full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of deep dark red plums, dark red cherries, black cherries, dark tertiary earth, integrated cedar oak. Long finish with savoury soy sauce. Very good quality. Aged Right Bank Bodeaux drinking at peak already. Enjoy.
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Not tired but likely won’t be as good in 5 years (my last bottle so I’ll never know) - cork soaked more than half - didn’t smell musty on open, so only 45 min decant - not profound, but poetic for sure - mellow, layered , mid weight, lots of 2ndary flavors - a right bank beauty
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After so many years of deep sleep, the 86 vintage is consistently open and drinking well. The cork fumbled upon opening but the wine showed very well. Improved after decant for an hour. Nice balance of blue fruit, cigar box, anise and bramble. Medium body. Really great for a mid-priced 35 year old wine!
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Opened with Derrald tonight, cork 15% saturated, small piece broke off when opened, no worries, heavenly nose showed immediately upon removing the cork, nose of black berry, saddle leather, cigar box, and roasted coffee grounds, same on the palate, big body, very tasty, at peak so suggest you enjoy soonest, will hold for years if properly cellared at 58 degrees but not improve IMO, mouth filling fruit, secondary flavors make for an easy evening of sip and savor over good conversation, and a medium/long finish.
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Perfect bottle. Pnp. In neck fill, only about 1cm of the bottom end of the cork soaked, clean top. A fairy dark garnet with just a touch of browning towards a clear rim. An almost perfect, mature right bank Bordeaux in my eyes. Wonderful balance. Medium body, sweet red and dark fruit, wood spices, leather, but also a nice freshness and acidity. Was great with a wagyu burger at home. The fairly short finish is perhaps the only short coming, otherwise this is as good as it gets for a mature mid priced Bordeaux. Would not decant and will not improve but well stored bottles should be still drinking well in 10 years, this is the 86 Bdx vintage after all. This bottle (and CellarTracker) reminded me of my first Canon, the equally great 1989 many years ago.
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Bought 12b for 39/b (after all taxes and fees) from a NYC auction 15+ years ago; this is #6. Cork broke; stain about halfway up. Decanted with normal sediment for its age. Purple with bit of amber edge; mature redcurrant, old oiled leather?; fruit still good, bit of tobacco; some persistence. Held well for 3 hours. Tastier than I remember from past bottles; glad to have more. Stored horizontally in a cool, dark basement since purchase. My evaluation (see earlier posts for my 4-category, non-point rating system): This is notable+ when considering quality, age, and price.
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Well structured with good acidity and tannins on the finish. On the nose mainly secondary notes of leather, tobacco with a hint of red fruits. Medium bodied, no rush to drink given freshness.
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Subsequent notes on this wine from over 5 years ago. Deep dark garnet in color with ever-so-slight clearing at the edges. Full, forward & fragrant nose of ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blueberries & cassis with overtones of cedar, tobacco, floral notes of violets, earthy, loam, leather, herbs, spices & minerals. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of sweet cherries, mulberries & cassis with mushrooms, spices, herbs, minerals & a hint of vanilla/oak. Lingering smooth finish. Drinks quite well at present & should continue to hold at its peak of development for a few more years if cellared properly. However, at 34 years of age I doubt any further develop would occur. Fill was at lower portion of neck; cork was intact but stained the full length.
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Nice mature bdx. Very easy going. Probably on a downward decline as the tannins are almost completely resolved. Mostly saddle leather and mushroom notes with dried fruits. Acidity still prominent on the palate, dry tannins on the back end. Turns a bit angular, thin and acidic on the finish signaling the best days are in its past. High should fill, perfect cork for age.
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Brilliant, fully mature bottle. Graceful on the palate, gently vivid on the nose, this lovely, mature right-bank effort is (for my palate) a perfect place just now. Medium-bodied, with some good flesh to the fruit; the nose evokes a sense of place and grape quite equally. Served blind, I guessed 1986, and from the nose alone I said left bank, but after tasting the fruit quality, etc., changed it to right bank. A brilliant effort, and, lucky for us, a great cork has preserved this in near perfect condition. Drink now, I doubt it's improving from here, even if it will hold a few more years. A true joy to behold. recommended
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What a pleasant surprise this old magnum proved to be, with charcuterie, cavatelli and NY strip steak at a local Italian restaurant, a posto.
Very healthy fill at bottom neck and a quick decant. I believe this is 70 merlot/30 cab franc, which yielded a quite savory and earthy nose. My wife, whose nose is way better than mine, immediately announced "tobacco!" Also coffee, meat and blood. The fruit profile was a rather subdued compote, but the wine is not at all "stewed". At the age of 34 the tannins have obviously mellowed, but plenty of grip remains. Long finish. In mag form this wine has plenty of life left.
This wine is manly and decidedly unsexy. I found this to be a refreshing antithesis of what is frequently derided as the modern gloopy St E. 93
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Nose of black cherry, red cherry, black berry, saddle leather, and coffee grounds, same on the palate, big body, tasty, slightly past peak but holding well, mouth filling fruit, great flavors, and a long, long finish.
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Odeur faible de bouchon mais aucun goût de bouchon. Rouge foncé, plein de fruit, encore frais. Très rond . Magnifique. Bu avec Nico, fête des pères. Roast beef très réussi. 9/10
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Needed about 1/2 hour to pull together in a decanter. Classic older claret. Mid-red cherry, cedar, tobacco and still some of the 1986 tannins hanging around. Ready to drink.
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Started out old and musty with some fruit showing but there was tremendous improvement with air. Tobacco, cedar, cherries, and tannins. No need to hold further.
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Still closed upon initial opening. Truffles and cigar box. Black fruits and licorice opened up after about one hour. Tannins well structured. Dark chocolate on the finish developed later.
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Bottle was mid neck and perfect cork. Fantastic youthful crimson color. Still has plenty of life and energy, despite the fruit being almost all tertiary at this point. Aromatic nose with leather and spice notes. Palate is smooth and mostly integrated, with fine tannins in the background and plenty of forest floor character. Lengthy finish or repeating leather, spice, and dried red fruit notes. The best of '88, '85, and'86 that I've had this year.
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Still has a nice dark ruby color. Very funky nose on opening, like sticking your nose into very old library books. ?Perhaps a bit of VA detected. Once the nose settled down after 45 minutes, there were dried cherries, hints of raisin, truffle, black tea, leather, and dried herbs. Something was off on the palate but it was still charming. Still has some soft tannins to resolve. High acidity on the finish, which had impressive length. Quite an odd wine. I'd like to try another bottle to see if there is some variation here.
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Deep dark garnet in color with ever-so-slight clearing at the edges. Forward, attractive & fragrant nose of developed & mature, ripe fruit aromas of cherries, crushed blueberries & cassis with cedar overtones, tobacco, floral notes of violets, earthy, loam, leather, dried herbs, spices & minerals. Medium-full bodied with a good concentration of well balanced, smooth textured, developed & mature, seamless, ripe fruit flavors of sweet cherries, blackberries & dark plums with earthy, truffles, dark cocoa, herbs, minerals and a hint of toasty oak. Lingering silky smooth finish. Drinks quite well at present and should continue with limited developing with a few more years of additional aging.
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colour still quite deep. Bit hard on nose. Good fruit but needed coaxing. Firm aspect continued on palate. Tannic structure. Hard to believe this needed more time but not as exciting as previous bottles.
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Awesome- just the right balance of dark fruit, wood, some earth, and nice floral notes. Completely mellowed tannins. Not as funky as a typical bordeaux of this age.
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Quick notes (Vernon): On open, a fairly reserved note. With a bit of time, a peppery, spicy, and mature red fruit notes. Very light, elegant palate. Lower, approachable tannin. With a couple of days air, very light, elegant, reserved, and classic. (+)
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Rather reserved at first, but this was double decanted and opened out considerably with some air. A core of rich dark fruited flavours framed by mature cedar, tobacco and higher toned spicy elements, all conveyed with remarkable grace and finesse on the palate. It doesn't have the powerful tannic spine I'd expect from an '86; the texture's very polished and this is all too easy to drink.
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Dark fruit and pretty neat. It was against a glorious bottle of 82 Gruaud Larosse so maybe it was not given its needed focus in order to judge correctly.
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Bricking and auburn/ruby, but not faded in color. When first opened, it tasted a little funky I thought it might be off. After decanting for an hour, it came around. Smooth cassis, berry and cedar notes. The nose was always a little funky, but it drank well. Drink up though.
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so plummy and jammy, with a touch of tobacco and saddle. It's soft, lingering ethereally on the palate for what seems like eternity. I wouldn't normally serve this bottle with pesto pasta, but the age has made it very approachable and delightful. Love this wine!
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a very supple, soft, well-balanced Bordeaux with the right mix of tobacco and fruit. No need to decant. Perfect with steak and fries. A little sediment in the final pours.
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'Pure Velvet' on the nose and palate. Smells and tastes horse, in a positive way. Extremely balanced and elegant. Varm and round... Meaty and great acidity in the finish. Opened even more after half an hour in the glass. The french are able...but you get the same quality for half the price in Piemonte.
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Appearance: medium brick-red with brown rim Aroma: tobacco, leather, flowers, earth, fading cherries and a hint of oak. Full-bodied with good acidity and almost no tannins. Leather, tobacco, fading cherries with a nice touch of oak on the palate. Fully matured, round and pleasant wine.
Paired excellently with filet of beef with creamed potatoes. Actually, the wine gained an extra point here... Performs better on the palate than on the nose.
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This bottle had the softest tannins yet but with a deep smell of earth and fruit and tobacco. On the tongue, it dissipated a bit on the after taste...hope this doesn't spell the end of the case.
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a delightfully well-balanced bordeaux, with tobacco, sweet earth, and faint cherries on the nose, followed by a soft structure in the mouth, and a considerable finish...perfect for the ham pizza and lamb chops with garlic.
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delicious stewed tomatoes, tobacco, and earthiness on the nose, followed by well-balanced fruit on the tongue and a lingering after-finish...got better over time...
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le poo poo on the nose indeed -- "like the resin of a wine bottle from Italian grappa," says Karen. Tom says, "my son Jackson's socks after a rainy day." Earthy, truffles, dirt. Tastes like cherries and blackberries, with a hint of chocolate and wood.
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came out of the bottle very tight and required 1 hr of decanting before it opened up soft and pretty velvety, with good solid fruit on the tongue and some tobacco and brambles on the nose. went well with the pasta.
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Had a bottle from this case last night and another one again tonight. This bottle displayed more complexity, a richer nose of fruit with well-balanced tobacco. A good mouthfeel, with soft tannins and good fruit and a better finish. Glad I own 8 more bottles.
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Blackberries & blueberries with light brambles, tobacco, and some dung on the nose. Soft tannins and velvety feel on the tongue, with hints of pencil shavings. Unfortunately, it's not complex and so a little disappointing in this regard.
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aged Bordeaux night at Cafe Bernard: Darker than the 85 and not as open. Tight nose showed some plums and blackberries and bit of dark choclate. Still very young mouth shows some really sexy dark fruit along with leather,cedar and earth tones. Still has gripping tannins which tell me this wines has miles to go.
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Friday night Bordeaux (Cafe Bernard, Chicago IL): nose: fairly brooding nose and has a brutish quality to it with tones of dark red cherries, anise, black currants, and tones of dark herbs. Good depth, but rather tight and doesn't give up too much for a while
taste: a bit taught on the palate with a real nice silky medium feel and good tannins that remind you that this is a 86. Well balanced tones of dark red cherries, dark florals, black currants, and dark roasted herbs balance out well together. The tones are more alive on the palate then they were on the nose
overall: still quite young. Very well balanced with good acidity, this certainly reflects the vintage and it certainly can be drunk now, but needs a good decant to let it get going
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Pure silk on the palate, I could swish this for hours. Bright cassis fruit in the foreground with hints of mushrooms, rust, and oak. Beautiful grippy finish as well. The mature nose isn't as delicate, with some plums and cedar. I had this open for 24 hours and it's even better on day two. Aside from the nose this is a pretty youthful wine.
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As would be expected in a 22 yr-old St Emilion, a softer, deeper fruit on the tongue & nose...faint hints of pepper and earth...nicely drinking and probably not going to drink much better over the next few yrs.
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mid brick red, warm mocha and iron on nose, mature , lovely entry mature fruit but no decline, held for a long time in the mouth , a firm structure holding the fruit, and an elegant finish. Delicious mature St Emilion from a vintage not rated on right bank.
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A 1986 Bordeaux Horizontal with The Commanderie de Bordeaux (Vancouver): This wine was a roller-coaster in the glass. Starts with a slight reductive/raisiny aspect in the nose. But the palate is better and improves still. In the mouth the wine shows decent acids at first, but then the wine just fades out as it sits longer.
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Remarkably youthful, with medium ruby color and slight bricking. Wonderful nose of red fruit and earth. Well integrated tannins, but has the backbone for several more years at least. Rich cherry and currant nuances. 35 seconds on the finish. Glad to have 2 more in my cellar.
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Medium bodied with red/garnet color - not showing that much age. Rich aromas and subtle complex merlot flavors on the palate. Mature and drinking perfectly. Excellent - great buy at $60. 8/01
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4/24/2024 - BellevuePhil wrote: 93 Points
In the opulent tapestry of oenological delights, where each bottle holds the promise of a new adventure, the 1986 Château Canon surprised me. I thought it was a mere 91 before it was popped, but it emerges as a luminary, casting its radiant glow upon the palates of the discerning.
As a member of upper society, an adventurer, a scoundrel, a showoff, and a rock musician, I've navigated the labyrinthine corridors of taste and indulgence, seeking the elixir that can stir the soul and ignite the senses.
On the palate, the 1986 Château Canon unfolds with remarkable finesse and complexity. Velvety smooth, yet imbued with a profound depth, it coats the tongue with layers of luscious dark fruits, intertwining with nuances of tobacco, leather, and a subtle hint of earthiness. The wine's structure is impeccable, with finely integrated tannins providing a sturdy backbone that carries the flavors to a crescendo.
On the palate, the 1986 Château Canon reveals its true mastery, weaving a tapestry of complexity and finesse. Layers of ripe berries and plums dance upon the tongue, accompanied by notes of tobacco and cedarwood, evoking memories of crackling fires and clandestine encounters in the Alaskan wilderness. Yet, there is a subtlety to its richness, a nuance that speaks of sophistication and refinement, much like the delicate balance between passion and restraint.
With each sip, the wine unfurls like a lover's embrace, enveloping the palate in a symphony of flavors. Ruby-red in hue, it beckons with a bouquet redolent of black cherries, cassis, and a hint of vanilla, reminiscent of the sweet whispers exchanged beneath the Northern Lights.
Please dear brothers and sisters, let me transport you to a night of unparalleled enchantment, a night where the 1986 Château Canon became more than just a wine—it became a conduit for the most intimate of experiences. Picture a Saturday evening in Girdwood, the air pregnant with anticipation as the Northern Lights shimmered overhead like celestial dancers. In the cozy confines of a ski resort lodge, I found myself entwined in a whirlwind romance with a Latina goddess from Venezuela, her fiery spirit igniting a flame within me that burned brighter than the midnight sun.
As we uncorked two bottles of the 1986 Château Canon, its crimson elixir a reflection of our passion, we embarked on a journey that would etch itself into the annals of memory. With hearts aflame and spirits unbound, we ascended to the summit of the ski resort, where a rustic cabin stood sentinel beneath the star-studded sky. With the audacity befitting a scoundrel and the bravado of a showoff, we broke through the threshold of propriety and into the sanctum of our desires.
Beneath the canopy of stars, amidst the heady aroma of aged oak and wildflowers, we surrendered ourselves to the primal rhythm of love. Good Lord she got me hooked on Latina and it's this memory that enveloped my senses as I popped this wine tonight.
The 1986 Château Canon bore witness to our passion, its velvety texture and lingering finish a testament to the ecstasy that enveloped us. In that fleeting moment, time stood still, and we were but two souls intertwined in a dance as old as the universe itself.
As I raise my glass to the memory of that fateful night, the 1986 Château Canon becomes more than just a wine; it becomes a vessel for the stories we carry within us, a testament to the transformative power of love and adventure. In its depths, I find not only the taste of a bygone era but also the echoes of a life lived with passion and purpose. And so, dear connoisseur, I invite you to join me in raising a toast to the 1986 Château Canon—a wine that transcends the boundaries of time and space, weaving tales of romance and adventure with every sip. Cheers to life, love, and the pursuit of epicurean delights!
NOTE TO SELF: WINE SURPRISED ME. OPENED LIKE A YOUNG MAIDEN AFTER THREE HOURS TO REVEAL A WINE THAT WAS AMAZING. DECANT THREE HOURS (MAYBE FOUR WAS OPENING AS i DRANK IT)
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2/25/2024 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 93 Points
Revisiting an old friend... Almost 3 years after my last bottle, this was again a super showing and the wine is still in its peak drinking window for my taste. Slow ox'ed for about 2h. This delivers all one hopes for in a mature Bordeaux, beautifully balanced and aromatic with cigar box, leather and still some dark fruit. 80s Canon are great, whether its 85, 86 or 89 (yet to try the 82).
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1/28/2024 - Padawine Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dégusté durant 2 jours, il ne s'est pas fatigué du tout. Bel équilibre, séduisant, un beau fruit rouge qui lui donne encore un air de jeunesse, mais le petit tabac fait remarquer que c'est un vin à maturité.
Je l'ai trouvé superbe, je m'attendais à moins vu le millésime.
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10/5/2023 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 93 Points
Tim Bday lunch at GW-IT. Tasted blind. Drank in Gabriel Standart.
Guessed correctly as Right Bank Bordeaux but thought it was 10 years younger than 1986.
Appearance deep intensity, garnet colour. Some fine sediments. Legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensiy, with aromas of black cherries, dark red plums, dark tertiary earth, hint of violets, bit of graphite. Developed.
On the palate, dry, medium+ acidity, medium- alcohol (12.5%), soft fully integrated tannins, barely full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of deep dark red plums, dark red cherries, black cherries, dark tertiary earth, integrated cedar oak. Long finish with savoury soy sauce.
Very good quality. Aged Right Bank Bodeaux drinking at peak already. Enjoy.
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6/29/2023 - Zitan Likes this wine: 94 Points
Not tired but likely won’t be as good in 5 years (my last bottle so I’ll never know) - cork soaked more than half - didn’t smell musty on open, so only 45 min decant - not profound, but poetic for sure - mellow, layered , mid weight, lots of 2ndary flavors - a right bank beauty
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12/12/2021 - SteelerFan wrote: 92 Points
After so many years of deep sleep, the 86 vintage is consistently open and drinking well. The cork fumbled upon opening but the wine showed very well. Improved after decant for an hour. Nice balance of blue fruit, cigar box, anise and bramble. Medium body. Really great for a mid-priced 35 year old wine!
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12/3/2021 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opened with Derrald tonight, cork 15% saturated, small piece broke off when opened, no worries, heavenly nose showed immediately upon removing the cork, nose of black berry, saddle leather, cigar box, and roasted coffee grounds, same on the palate, big body, very tasty, at peak so suggest you enjoy soonest, will hold for years if properly cellared at 58 degrees but not improve IMO, mouth filling fruit, secondary flavors make for an easy evening of sip and savor over good conversation, and a medium/long finish.
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9/25/2021 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 93 Points
Perfect bottle. Pnp. In neck fill, only about 1cm of the bottom end of the cork soaked, clean top. A fairy dark garnet with just a touch of browning towards a clear rim. An almost perfect, mature right bank Bordeaux in my eyes. Wonderful balance. Medium body, sweet red and dark fruit, wood spices, leather, but also a nice freshness and acidity.
Was great with a wagyu burger at home. The fairly short finish is perhaps the only short coming, otherwise this is as good as it gets for a mature mid priced Bordeaux. Would not decant and will not improve but well stored bottles should be still drinking well in 10 years, this is the 86 Bdx vintage after all.
This bottle (and CellarTracker) reminded me of my first Canon, the equally great 1989 many years ago.
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4/27/2021 - Oenecnist wrote:
Bought 12b for 39/b (after all taxes and fees) from a NYC auction 15+ years ago; this is #6. Cork broke; stain about halfway up. Decanted with normal sediment for its age. Purple with bit of amber edge; mature redcurrant, old oiled leather?; fruit still good, bit of tobacco; some persistence. Held well for 3 hours. Tastier than I remember from past bottles; glad to have more. Stored horizontally in a cool, dark basement since purchase. My evaluation (see earlier posts for my 4-category, non-point rating system): This is notable+ when considering quality, age, and price.
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2/5/2021 - Vstalam wrote: 91 Points
Well structured with good acidity and tannins on the finish. On the nose mainly secondary notes of leather, tobacco with a hint of red fruits. Medium bodied, no rush to drink given freshness.
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12/30/2020 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 93 Points
Subsequent notes on this wine from over 5 years ago. Deep dark garnet in color with ever-so-slight clearing at the edges. Full, forward & fragrant nose of ripe fruit aromas of cherries, blueberries & cassis with overtones of cedar, tobacco, floral notes of violets, earthy, loam, leather, herbs, spices & minerals. Medium-full bodied with a very good concentration of well balanced & smooth textured, ripe fruit flavors of sweet cherries, mulberries & cassis with mushrooms, spices, herbs, minerals & a hint of vanilla/oak. Lingering smooth finish. Drinks quite well at present & should continue to hold at its peak of development for a few more years if cellared properly. However, at 34 years of age I doubt any further develop would occur. Fill was at lower portion of neck; cork was intact but stained the full length.
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10/31/2020 - gsb88 Likes this wine: 92 Points
didn't disappoint!
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7/25/2020 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nice mature bdx. Very easy going. Probably on a downward decline as the tannins are almost completely resolved. Mostly saddle leather and mushroom notes with dried fruits. Acidity still prominent on the palate, dry tannins on the back end. Turns a bit angular, thin and acidic on the finish signaling the best days are in its past. High should fill, perfect cork for age.
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5/23/2020 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Brilliant, fully mature bottle. Graceful on the palate, gently vivid on the nose, this lovely, mature right-bank effort is (for my palate) a perfect place just now. Medium-bodied, with some good flesh to the fruit; the nose evokes a sense of place and grape quite equally. Served blind, I guessed 1986, and from the nose alone I said left bank, but after tasting the fruit quality, etc., changed it to right bank. A brilliant effort, and, lucky for us, a great cork has preserved this in near perfect condition. Drink now, I doubt it's improving from here, even if it will hold a few more years. A true joy to behold. recommended
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3/28/2020 - vsirvanci wrote: 93 Points
Very well aged, pretty great vintage aged perfectly to make an even greater wine.
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2/1/2020 - Mchiarot Likes this wine: 93 Points
not over the hill, but its ready
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1/27/2020 - straight outta iowa Likes this wine: 93 Points
What a pleasant surprise this old magnum proved to be, with charcuterie, cavatelli and NY strip steak at a local Italian restaurant, a posto.
Very healthy fill at bottom neck and a quick decant. I believe this is 70 merlot/30 cab franc, which yielded a quite savory and earthy nose. My wife, whose nose is way better than mine, immediately announced "tobacco!" Also coffee, meat and blood. The fruit profile was a rather subdued compote, but the wine is not at all "stewed". At the age of 34 the tannins have obviously mellowed, but plenty of grip remains. Long finish. In mag form this wine has plenty of life left.
This wine is manly and decidedly unsexy. I found this to be a refreshing antithesis of what is frequently derided as the modern gloopy St E. 93
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9/13/2019 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 92 Points
Nose of black cherry, red cherry, black berry, saddle leather, and coffee grounds, same on the palate, big body, tasty, slightly past peak but holding well, mouth filling fruit, great flavors, and a long, long finish.
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6/16/2019 - Cavemenard wrote:
Odeur faible de bouchon mais aucun goût de bouchon. Rouge foncé, plein de fruit, encore frais. Très rond . Magnifique. Bu avec Nico, fête des pères. Roast beef très réussi. 9/10
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5/5/2019 - Milos wrote: 91 Points
Needed about 1/2 hour to pull together in a decanter. Classic older claret. Mid-red cherry, cedar, tobacco and still some of the 1986 tannins hanging around. Ready to drink.
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4/15/2019 - Diane (LI) wrote:
Started out old and musty with some fruit showing but there was tremendous improvement with air. Tobacco, cedar, cherries, and tannins. No need to hold further.
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6/27/2017 - mattstolz11 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Great earthy tertiary flavors. fully developed and enjoyable
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11/29/2015 - Winediamonds55 wrote: 91 Points
Still closed upon initial opening. Truffles and cigar box. Black fruits and licorice opened up after about one hour. Tannins well structured. Dark chocolate on the finish developed later.
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11/26/2015 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bottle was mid neck and perfect cork. Fantastic youthful crimson color. Still has plenty of life and energy, despite the fruit being almost all tertiary at this point. Aromatic nose with leather and spice notes. Palate is smooth and mostly integrated, with fine tannins in the background and plenty of forest floor character. Lengthy finish or repeating leather, spice, and dried red fruit notes. The best of '88, '85, and'86 that I've had this year.
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8/12/2015 - DrinkBordeaux wrote: 90 Points
Still has a nice dark ruby color. Very funky nose on opening, like sticking your nose into very old library books. ?Perhaps a bit of VA detected. Once the nose settled down after 45 minutes, there were dried cherries, hints of raisin, truffle, black tea, leather, and dried herbs. Something was off on the palate but it was still charming. Still has some soft tannins to resolve. High acidity on the finish, which had impressive length. Quite an odd wine. I'd like to try another bottle to see if there is some variation here.
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5/2/2015 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 93 Points
Deep dark garnet in color with ever-so-slight clearing at the edges. Forward, attractive & fragrant nose of developed & mature, ripe fruit aromas of cherries, crushed blueberries & cassis with cedar overtones, tobacco, floral notes of violets, earthy, loam, leather, dried herbs, spices & minerals. Medium-full bodied with a good concentration of well balanced, smooth textured, developed & mature, seamless, ripe fruit flavors of sweet cherries, blackberries & dark plums with earthy, truffles, dark cocoa, herbs, minerals and a hint of toasty oak. Lingering silky smooth finish. Drinks quite well at present and should continue with limited developing with a few more years of additional aging.
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10/26/2014 - redders Likes this wine: 90 Points
colour still quite deep. Bit hard on nose. Good fruit but needed coaxing. Firm aspect continued on palate. Tannic structure. Hard to believe this needed more time but not as exciting as previous bottles.
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8/26/2014 - redwineguy wrote: 90 Points
Awesome- just the right balance of dark fruit, wood, some earth, and nice floral notes. Completely mellowed tannins. Not as funky as a typical bordeaux of this age.
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11/23/2013 - indiscriminate palate wrote:
Quick notes (Vernon): On open, a fairly reserved note. With a bit of time, a peppery, spicy, and mature red fruit notes. Very light, elegant palate. Lower, approachable tannin. With a couple of days air, very light, elegant, reserved, and classic. (+)
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11/23/2013 - salil wrote: 93 Points
Rather reserved at first, but this was double decanted and opened out considerably with some air. A core of rich dark fruited flavours framed by mature cedar, tobacco and higher toned spicy elements, all conveyed with remarkable grace and finesse on the palate. It doesn't have the powerful tannic spine I'd expect from an '86; the texture's very polished and this is all too easy to drink.
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7/11/2012 - St Paul wrote: 91 Points
Dark fruit and pretty neat. It was against a glorious bottle of 82 Gruaud Larosse so maybe it was not given its needed focus in order to judge correctly.
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7/6/2012 - Tavastgatan wrote: 92 Points
Evrything is relative. On its own this is an outstanding wine, but beside Gruaud 82, it's merely very good.
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10/8/2011 - SteelerFan wrote: 88 Points
Bricking and auburn/ruby, but not faded in color. When first opened, it tasted a little funky I thought it might be off. After decanting for an hour, it came around. Smooth cassis, berry and cedar notes. The nose was always a little funky, but it drank well. Drink up though.
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9/11/2011 - samer wrote: 94 Points
so plummy and jammy, with a touch of tobacco and saddle. It's soft, lingering ethereally on the palate for what seems like eternity. I wouldn't normally serve this bottle with pesto pasta, but the age has made it very approachable and delightful. Love this wine!
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3/1/2011 - samer wrote: 93 Points
a very supple, soft, well-balanced Bordeaux with the right mix of tobacco and fruit. No need to decant. Perfect with steak and fries. A little sediment in the final pours.
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1/23/2011 - larsrog wrote: 92 Points
'Pure Velvet' on the nose and palate.
Smells and tastes horse, in a positive way.
Extremely balanced and elegant. Varm and round... Meaty and great acidity in the finish. Opened even more after half an hour in the glass.
The french are able...but you get the same quality for half the price in Piemonte.
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12/29/2010 - guitarkim wrote: 92 Points
Appearance: medium brick-red with brown rim
Aroma: tobacco, leather, flowers, earth, fading cherries and a hint of oak.
Full-bodied with good acidity and almost no tannins. Leather, tobacco, fading cherries with a nice touch of oak on the palate.
Fully matured, round and pleasant wine.
Paired excellently with filet of beef with creamed potatoes. Actually, the wine gained an extra point here...
Performs better on the palate than on the nose.
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12/4/2010 - uberoh wrote: 92 Points
Good balance, soft tannins, good fruit - enjoyed....
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12/2/2010 - samer wrote: 90 Points
This bottle had the softest tannins yet but with a deep smell of earth and fruit and tobacco. On the tongue, it dissipated a bit on the after taste...hope this doesn't spell the end of the case.
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10/28/2010 - samer wrote: 93 Points
a delightfully well-balanced bordeaux, with tobacco, sweet earth, and faint cherries on the nose, followed by a soft structure in the mouth, and a considerable finish...perfect for the ham pizza and lamb chops with garlic.
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5/2/2010 - salil wrote: flawed
Canon dinner (Dobbs Ferry): Corked.
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11/30/2009 - Peech wrote: 90 Points
a little bit of ripe fruit on the nose but acidic on the palate.
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11/8/2009 - samer wrote: 91 Points
delicious stewed tomatoes, tobacco, and earthiness on the nose, followed by well-balanced fruit on the tongue and a lingering after-finish...got better over time...
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10/26/2009 - samer wrote: 90 Points
le poo poo on the nose indeed -- "like the resin of a wine bottle from Italian grappa," says Karen. Tom says, "my son Jackson's socks after a rainy day." Earthy, truffles, dirt. Tastes like cherries and blackberries, with a hint of chocolate and wood.
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10/24/2009 - samer wrote: 91 Points
came out of the bottle very tight and required 1 hr of decanting before it opened up soft and pretty velvety, with good solid fruit on the tongue and some tobacco and brambles on the nose. went well with the pasta.
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10/18/2009 - samer wrote: 91 Points
Had a bottle from this case last night and another one again tonight. This bottle displayed more complexity, a richer nose of fruit with well-balanced tobacco. A good mouthfeel, with soft tannins and good fruit and a better finish. Glad I own 8 more bottles.
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10/17/2009 - samer wrote: 89 Points
Blackberries & blueberries with light brambles, tobacco, and some dung on the nose. Soft tannins and velvety feel on the tongue, with hints of pencil shavings. Unfortunately, it's not complex and so a little disappointing in this regard.
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7/27/2009 - LeatherPalate wrote: 90 Points
aged Bordeaux night at Cafe Bernard: Darker than the 85 and not as open. Tight nose showed some plums and blackberries and bit of dark choclate.
Still very young mouth shows some really sexy dark fruit along with leather,cedar and earth tones. Still has gripping
tannins which tell me this wines has miles to go.
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7/24/2009 - KeithAkers wrote: 91 Points
Friday night Bordeaux (Cafe Bernard, Chicago IL): nose: fairly brooding nose and has a brutish quality to it with tones of dark red cherries, anise, black currants, and tones of dark herbs. Good depth, but rather tight and doesn't give up too much for a while
taste: a bit taught on the palate with a real nice silky medium feel and good tannins that remind you that this is a 86. Well balanced tones of dark red cherries, dark florals, black currants, and dark roasted herbs balance out well together. The tones are more alive on the palate then they were on the nose
overall: still quite young. Very well balanced with good acidity, this certainly reflects the vintage and it certainly can be drunk now, but needs a good decant to let it get going
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2/25/2009 - d'Yquembe Mutombo wrote: 91 Points
Pure silk on the palate, I could swish this for hours. Bright cassis fruit in the foreground with hints of mushrooms, rust, and oak. Beautiful grippy finish as well. The mature nose isn't as delicate, with some plums and cedar. I had this open for 24 hours and it's even better on day two. Aside from the nose this is a pretty youthful wine.
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8/31/2008 - samer wrote: 90 Points
As would be expected in a 22 yr-old St Emilion, a softer, deeper fruit on the tongue & nose...faint hints of pepper and earth...nicely drinking and probably not going to drink much better over the next few yrs.
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10/30/2007 - redders wrote: 91 Points
mid brick red, warm mocha and iron on nose, mature , lovely entry mature fruit but no decline, held for a long time in the mouth , a firm structure holding the fruit, and an elegant finish. Delicious mature St Emilion from a vintage not rated on right bank.
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4/10/2006 - Blair Curtis wrote: 86 Points
A 1986 Bordeaux Horizontal with The Commanderie de Bordeaux (Vancouver): This wine was a roller-coaster in the glass. Starts with a slight reductive/raisiny aspect in the nose. But the palate is better and improves still. In the mouth the wine shows decent acids at first, but then the wine just fades out as it sits longer.
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9/25/2005 - PurpleHaze wrote: 92 Points
Remarkably youthful, with medium ruby color and slight bricking. Wonderful nose of red fruit and earth. Well integrated tannins, but has the backbone for several more years at least. Rich cherry and currant nuances. 35 seconds on the finish. Glad to have 2 more in my cellar.
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5/3/2003 - Burgundy Al wrote: 89 Points
Tasting. Robust black fruit, still very young, behind very firm tannins. Moderate length.
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5/1/2003 - winefool wrote: 91 Points
Rich typical Canon merlot flavors. Not showing signs of age at all. 5/03
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8/1/2001 - winefool wrote: 92 Points
Medium bodied with red/garnet color - not showing that much age. Rich aromas and subtle complex merlot flavors on the palate. Mature and drinking perfectly. Excellent - great buy at $60. 8/01
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