Canon St-Emilion 2020

100 points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): "The brilliant 2020 Canon looks set to surpass both the 2019 and 2016 as this estate's finest wine since the post-war period, though like many of the best 2020s, it will require more patience than its 2019 counterpart. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cherries and raspberries mingled with notions of exotic spices and iris, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with vibrant acids and beautifully polished, chalky tannins. Pure and precise, it concludes with a long, mouthwatering finish. This beautifully constructed wine communicates the essence of this superb limestone terroir, and it will be worth a special effort to track down and cellar. Drink: 2030-2065. (4/6/23)"

100 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2020 Canon is a wine of mind-blowing purity and nuance. It has been nothing less than thrilling on the three occasions I have tasted it so far. Intensely saline and chalky, the 2020 possesses spellbinding finesse and nuance. Red-toned fruit, crushed rocks, white pepper, rose petal and mint all come alive in the glass, buttressed by clean saline notes that extend the mid-palate into the finish. There is simply nothing like great Canon. And the 2020 is unquestionably a great Canon. Drink: 2030-2070. (Feb 2023)"

100 points Jane Anson (Inside Bordeaux): "(68% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Franc). Stunning, grab-a-friend, insanely good wine. The structure and tannic grip manage to be both barely there and tightly controlling, giving form and space for the raspberry, blueberry and pomegrante fruits to crowd in the palate, followed by oyster shell salinity, pummice stone scrape and electic points of mandarin peel and lemon grass. Finished with pure no messing about juiciness. 50% new barrels, 3.53ph. Harvest 4 September to 23 September. 50% new oak, 40hl/ha yield. Thomas Duclos consultant, Nicolas Audebert director. Alcohol 14.5%. Drink: 2028-2046. (12/1/22)"

99 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (The Wine Independent): "The 2020 Canon is composed of 68% Merlot and 32% Cabernet Franc. Deep purple-black colored, it leaps with gregarious notions of red currant jelly, fresh, crunchy plums, and wild blueberries, leading to suggestions of cedar chest, violets, clove oil, and licorice with a waft of truffles. The full-bodied palate is chock-full of vibrant black and red berry layers, supported by super-plush tannins and fantastic tension, finishing long and energetic. Gorgeous! Alcohol 14.5%. Drink: 2028-2068. (3/16/23)"

99 points Georgina Hindle (Decanter): "A classy, open, expressive and radiant Canon in 2020. Less plush than I was expecting on the palate, this is linear, focussed and refined with a core of juicy red fruits; raspberries, strawberries and cherries. High acidity gives the lifeforce and sense of joy while still remaining structured and forward. Definitely not as big, or weighty as some in St-Emilion, this is more sophisticated with well integrated, very fine tannins and good use of oak. It’s not trying too hard, elegant and charming as Canon does so well with freshness and a wide, expansive finish. Clarity and intensity. Brilliant. Drink: 2027-2048. (1/3/23)"

98 points James Suckling: "Black cherries, fresh herbs, lemon rind, and violets on the nose. Crushed stone, too. Medium to full body with super fine tannins that run the length of the wine. It goes on for minutes. A great wine. Try after 2027, but already thoroughly gorgeous. A classical Canon. (12/12/22)"

98 points Jeff Leve (The Wine Cellar Insider): "A stunning textural experience with its silky, velvet drenched profiled. Aromatically, you find flowers, black, red and blue fruits, licorice, and crushed rocks in the perfume. On the palate, the wine is all about its polished silk profile, which is the perfect backdrop for all of its layers of sensuous fruits, freshness and purity, finishing with a touch of salt on the backend. The seamless finish delivers length going on for over 50 seconds. Drink from 2025-2060. (3/21/23)"

97+ points Jeb Dunnuck: "Another brilliant Saint-Emilion, the 2020 Château Canon actually reminds me of the 2019 with its pure, elegant, yet concentrated profile. Based on 68% Merlot and 32% Cabernet Franc, it reveals a deep ruby hue as well as classic upper plateau notes of perfumed red and black fruits (black raspberries, darker cherries), wildflowers, graphite, and chalky minerality. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it has a seamless, elegant mouthfeel, perfectly integrated tannins and acidity, and flawless overall balance. As with the 2019, it's not the blockbuster style of the 2015, but it’s lively, elegant, and pure class. It needs 7-8 years of bottle age to hit maturity and will have 2-3 decades of overall longevity. Drink: 2030-2060. (3/29/23)"

97 points Neal Martin (Vinous): "The 2020 Canon, bottled in May 2022, has an exquisite bouquet that stops you in your tracks. Breathtaking delineation and focus, taut and linear, yet with ample fruit, this unabashedly exudes its propitious terroir. The palate is delectably creamy on the entry with fine salinity, vibrant and tensile, with a very persistent finish. This Canon ranks amongst the finest overseen by the team in recent years. Chapeau. Tasted twice with consistent notes. Drink: 2026-2055. (Feb 2023)"

97 points Chris Kissack (Winedoctor: "This young wine from Nicolas Audebert has a sweet and perfumed nose, with fragrant aromas of rosehips, raspberry, strawberry and blackberry, tinged with dark chocolate. It has density from the Merlot, but there is a delightfully fragrant Cabernet Franc perfume shining through here as well. More enticingly, there follows a focused, limestone-driven structure, with a wonderfully tense grip, supremely polished tannins and a wonderful acid balance as well. Tautly defined, pure and long, this is an excellent result from Canon. Top notch. (Mar 2024)"

97 points La Revue du Vin de France: "An infinite sensuality emanates from 2020. This sensuality is perfectly reflected in the bright fruit and floral tones. There's an immense finesse to this wine, a very delicate grain of texture and tannin. A charming velvetiness emerges on the palate, and a magnificent chalky sensation chisels the chalky finish, crunching under the tongue. Everything is there for this wine to evolve with grace and energy. Thrilling! (2024)"

97 points Bettane & Desseauve Guide (2024).