Chateau Canon (Futures Pre-Sale) 2012

Professional Ratings

• 94 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
  A dense ruby/purple color is followed by notes of black raspberries, blueberries, crushed rocks and spring flowers. This medium to full-bodied, well-endowed, authoritative Canon reveals some serious tannin in the finish, so 4-5 years of cellaring will be needed after bottling. It should last 15-20 years.
  Barrel Sample: 91-94 Points
• 94 Wine Enthusiast
  This dense, extracted wine has dark coffee and bitter chocolate flavors that are followed by wood and tannins. The fruit is still obscured, and may need many years for its dark character to emerge.
  Barrel Sample: 92-94 Points
• 93 James Suckling
  A very silky and elegant wine that finishes beautifully. Full-to-medium body, with well integrated tannins and a refined and pretty finish. It goes on nicely with chocolate, walnuts, hazelnuts, and delicate fruit. Very savory. Lovely texture. 92-93
• 93 Jeb Dunnuck
  The 2012 Canon is a rich, smoky, meaty 2012 that checks in as blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. Ripe black cherries, melted licorice, chocolate, and a touch of scorched earth all emerge from this classic, structured effort that has terrific concentration, a pure, backward style, ripe tannin, and a great finish. It’s nowhere near ready for primetime (this wine didn’t start to open up until the second day after opening) and needs a solid 5-7 years of cellaring but will see its 30th birthday in fine form.
  Rating: 93+
• 91 Wine Spectator
  Displays a rather firm coating of chalk dust and vanilla notes, with a core of subdued plum and blackberry fruit. Verges on an extracted feel, but comes out solid and sculpted in the end.
  Barrel Sample: 88-91 Points