What does the Château Canon 2016 ?
One year after the release of the vintage that had triggered unprecedented attention and the massive return of buyers to the Château CanonIt was important to us to know if the vintage 2016 would live up to our expectations. A few weeks before the official tasting of early produce From Bordeaux, we went to Saint-Emilion to meet Stéphane Bonnasse, the technical manager, and the team of Château Canon, and of course to taste the great wine in advance.
Constant attention to the vine
“2016 was a complicated year, constantly challenging us with every possible threat to the vines,” explains Mr. Bonnasse. “In the final stages, we had to manage the leaves with great care. The intense summer heat depleted water reserves, and we were at risk of stress that could have prevented the berries from ripening. We therefore focused on observation and management to promote the development of bunches with a very specific concentration of matter.”
September was a continuation of August, with hot, dry days and thankfully cool nights, allowing the grapes to protect themselves and ripen undisturbed. The harvest began very early here, around September 24th, and lasted for four weeks. The berries were crisp and fragrant; the grapes were in perfect condition. The sorting tables were not overworked.
At the time of the vintageWe formed a team of scouts who identified the grape bunches to be harvested first on each vine. We went through the vineyards in successive passes. We systematically removed the bunches in the first rows, which were particularly exposed to the sun. The weather conditions were very favorable and gave us no reason to rush the harvest: it was ultimately very pleasant.
THE Château Canon 2016 will be better than 2015
Mr. Bonnasse continues: “The vinification of the grand vin was very simple, especially since we are as non-interventionist as possible. We carried out very gentle extractions and collected a press wine of remarkable quality.
At the very beginning of March 2017, we carried out the blending with Nicolas Audebert and our oenologist. Only two small plots could not be included in the grand vin. The yield of 45 hl/ha is quite satisfactory for the estate.
« THE Canon 2016 will be better than 2015 “The wine we now have confirms what we could foresee from the harvest,” says Stéphane Bonnasse. “It is in line with what we want to produce: a fresh, elegant wine, sufficiently structured and fruity, offering a rich and complex aromatic profile.”
The tasting of Château Canon 2016
The tasting of the grand vin was quite moving: it felt as if the wine contained a positive energy and wanted to deliver a message. Tasting a wine en primeur is a complex exercise and primarily allows one to verify the balance and structure of the wine.
On this Canon 2016We were surprised because the wine was, of course, remarkable, but ultimately very approachable and, above all, very sensual. We will be able to drink the Château Canon 2016 quite quickly, but also leave it in the cellar for very, very long years!
The nose was particularly open – which is rare for a wine still aging – with aromas of red and black fruits. The attack was lively and fresh. The palate was charming, with tannins that were curiously smooth yet definitely present. The finish was an explosion of fresh aromas, mingling red and black fruits, cedar, and tropical fruit notes. A delightful moment of pleasure, especially since the wine is mouthwatering and begs for another sip.