Croix Canon

Brand Description

Château Canon, located on top of the limestone plateau in view of the village of Saint-Émilion, was originally part of the Clos St-Martin vineyard. It was purchased in 1760 by Jacques Kanon, frigate lieutenant and corsair working for King Louis XV. Officially renamed Château Canon in 1853, the estate was purchased by the Wertheimer family in 1996, owners of the famed Chanel fashion house. In 2011, Canon purchased Château Matras to add to the production of its second wine, Clos Canon. In the summer of 2013, the Canon team unveiled the meticulously restored “Chapelle de Mazerat.” On the Saint-Émilion hillside sloping gently down to the Dordogne River, a magnificent stone cross marks the entrance to this chapel, which gave rise to a new label in 2011: “Croix Canon, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru.” The 12th century church now houses the entire winemaking and production side of the second wine. Today, Château Canon is recognized as a Première Grand Cru Classé “B” of Saint Émilion and one of the great estates of Bordeaux.

Location of Vineyard

In the 1990’s an extensive project was started to replant the vineyards and modernize the winemaking facilities at Château Canon. The wine is crafted using grapes from the 27 acres (11 hectares) surrounding the chapel, as well as from the young vines on the hillside. The plots are planted with 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, and the average age of the vines is 35 years.

Winemaking and Viticulture Philosophy

Croix Canon is crafted with the same precision as the Grand Vin. In the vineyard and cellar, winegrowers and workers apply the most meticulous methods, precise plot-byplot- management, and grape selection further refined by manual sorting. The gravity-flow fermenting room makes it possible to manipulate the grapes very gently. Made from a blend, which combines a majority of Merlot with a smaller quantity of Cabernet Franc, the wine is then aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, including a small proportion of new barrels to preserve aromatic balance and freshness of the fruit.

Tanks
Cellar
Chai
Barrels
Vineyard
Château Canon
Winemaker Nicolas Audebert
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Winery Profile
Owner: Wertheimer Family
Winemaker: Nicolas Audebert
Total acreage under vine: 85
Founded: 1760
Production: 130000
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Acclaim
The 2022 Croix Canon has turned out beautifully, mingling aromas of dark berries and cherries with hints of orange rind and petals. Medium to full-bodied, succulent and seamless, with a rich core of fruit, lively acids and a long, aromatic finish, it will offer a broad drinking window. As I've written before, recent vintages of this cuvée have confirmed its status as one of Bordeaux's finest second labels (though since it derives from dedicated holdings below Berliquet, it's not a "second wine" in the strict sense). — acclaim for 2022 Croix Canon Saint Émilion Grand Cru from Wine Advocate, Mar 2025
The second wine of Canon, the 2022 Croix Canon is based on 59% Cabernet Franc and 41% Merlot that spent 16-18 months in 30% new French oak. Its deep ruby/purple hue is followed by a beautiful, medium to full-bodied Saint-Emilion that has a beautiful core of ripe black cherry fruit as well as classic notes of lead pencil, crushed stone, and graphite. It's ripe and balanced and has great mid-palate and sweet tannins. Don't let its accessibility fool you; this will cruise for two decades and is better than most Grand Vins out there. — acclaim for 2022 Croix Canon Saint Émilion Grand Cru from Jeb Dunnuck, Feb 2025
Lightly reductive with a floral touch to the ripe but fresh fruit and a touch of white pepper. Quite refined. Nicely chewy with medium to full body and a compact finish of good length. — acclaim for 2022 Croix Canon Saint Émilion Grand Cru from James Suckling, Feb 2025
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