Primeurs - Château Canon 2022 - Saint-Emilion

Image split in 2 : sky on the left and close up of a bunch of grapes on the right

A VINTAGE OF DENSITY and authenticity

Château Canon 2022 stands out as a vintage of volume and density. An intense alliance of our vineyard plots. The remarkable ripeness of our Cabernet Franc. The charm and flesh of our Merlot. Keeping a certain volume of grapes on the vine avoids any tendency to over-concentrate the wine, which has drawn all its freshness from the moisture in the limestone quarries. Racy aromatics and a beautiful structure, marked by the characteristic signature of the plateau in the finish. A dense and full-bodied vintage.

2022 IN DETAIL

A HOT AND DRY CLIMATE

A dry and mild winter. Little rainfall between October and February. Only December followed the traditional pattern. A mild winter caused the vines to emerge from their slumber early, with budburst on certain Merlots occurring in the second half of March, exposing them to the risk of frost, which was duly announced from 1st April onwards. On several consecutive nights. No losses were reported on Canon's main plateau, thanks to the landscape and the altitude.

Temperatures rose... Gradually. May was a hot month, and the first heat wave arrived at the beginning of June. The spring was dry, too. On the eastern-facing slopes, the bunches were aerated by thinning out the leaves very slightly. This was performed earlier than usual, gradually helping the grapes to find shelter from the sun. A minimal tidying up.

A hot summer was forecast. We refined our strategy. The damp limestone quarries were our allies. A certain volume was maintained to avoid problems associated with over-concentration. The coolness of the terroir enabled the juice to remain in the fruit. The soils could bear it.

Only a few very specific areas seemed to suffer, where the soils were thin and rocky outcrops emerged. Or in plants with poorly developed root systems. These grapes would not be vinified. A key decision made to preserve the energy of the entire estate.

OUR TECHNICAL CHOICES

Tasting

On 15 August, we were already assessing the fruit on the vine. Tasting determines the organisation of the harvest. Minimal pressure from disease helped us maintain the desired volume. The Merlots were drenched with rain during the night of 24 to 25 August. The effect was beneficial. We were ready.

Harvesting

The harvest began on 30 August. The team, whose ranks had grown, had never started this early. Forty-five people cutting. Twelve people sorting. Picking took place in rather hot conditions.

Revealing

Exercising caution. We vinified carefully, paying attention to the material. The maturing process was transformed by the arrival of four 20 hectolitre tuns in the winery. Adding new complexity to the final blend! The contribution of woody flavour and oxygenation were distinct. We tasted blind, without downgrading plots or presses. A decisive choice.

Canon expresses its character more strongly as the conditions become more extreme. Fascinating.
Nicolas Audebert, General Manager

GRAPE VARIETIES

Cut fruits arranged in front of a white background

75%

Roses arranged in front of a white background

25%

MERLOT

Red fruits. Cherry. Lots of flesh. Enveloping. So much density.

CABERNET FRANC

Aromatic with touch of freshness. Noble. Floral. Daffodil. Elderberry.

THE WINE

A dense but authentic vintage. Unmistakably Canon.

It has everything. Sophistication and substance, scale and restraint, and that limestone signature. One subtle common thread is the freshness in which the vintage’s density is rooted and built. The first touches are floral, reminiscent of spring flowers and daffodils. These are paired with juicy, pleasingly deep red fruit notes. On the palate, the wine blooms harmoniously, showcasing mastery of a perfectly accomplished vintage. Cherry rubs shoulders with grapefruit in vibrant style. The silky texture seems to coat an electrifying core. These sensations linger, extending the tasting experience. The wine remains just right, with an unwavering grip.