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Buy any 6 bottles and save 5%. Buy any 12 bottles and save 10% (excludes wines on offer). Free UK delivery on orders over £100. Tel: 02922 337454
2011 Château Canon, Saint-Émilion Grand Cru Wine Republic

2011 Saint-Émilion 1er Grand Cru Classé, Château Canon

Saint-Emilion, Bordeaux, France

The Limestone Aristocrat

Graceful, quietly assured and beautifully layered, Château Canon 2011 reveals the understated pleasure of mature Saint-Émilion. Morello cherry, blackberry and dark plum mingle with rose petals, dried herbs and woodland aromas, while hints of tea, fine chocolate and gentle oak spice add depth. Beneath the fruit sits a distinctive chalky freshness, giving the bouquet definition and keeping its developing savoury character wonderfully alive.

The palate combines a silky entrance with finely textured tannins and a refreshing line of acidity. There is satisfying concentration through the middle, yet the wine moves with poise, unfolding into red fruit, earthy complexity and a lingering mineral finish. Bottle age has brought greater harmony and detail, making this a compelling choice for anyone seeking the pleasures of mature Bordeaux from a distinguished estate. Beautifully suited to the dinner table now, well-stored bottles retain the structure to develop further into the early 2030s.

For when: The candles are lit, the roast is resting, and there is no reason to hurry.

Pairs with: Roast lamb with garlic and thyme, beef fillet with truffle butter, duck breast with lentils, roast pheasant with bread sauce, porcini risotto or aged Gouda.

Canon’s character begins on the limestone plateau beside the medieval village of Saint-Émilion. Beneath its walled vineyards, porous limestone and water-retaining clay help sustain the vines through dry weather. This setting is central to the wine’s balance of ripe fruit, freshness and fine structure, qualities that lend particular distinction to the more restrained 2011 vintage.

Whats in the bottle
70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc

Notable Awards
94 points, The Wine Advocate

£120.00 - £120.00
£120.00
£120.00 - £120.00
£120.00
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Château Canon’s history took a defining turn in 1760 when the privateer Jacques Kanon purchased the estate. Today, it ranks among Saint-Émilion’s celebrated Premiers Grands Crus Classés. The Wertheimer family, owners of Chanel, acquired the property in 1996 and invested extensively in restoring its vineyards and cellars. John Kolasa oversaw this important period and was at the helm for the 2011 vintage.

The estate occupies an exceptional position on Saint-Émilion’s limestone plateau, with vineyards enclosed by traditional stone walls. Beneath the surface, ancient marine limestone is threaded with clay, creating a natural reserve of moisture that supports steady ripening. Merlot brings fruit and suppleness, while Cabernet Franc contributes aromatic detail, freshness and the structure that helps Canon age so gracefully.

Under Nicolas Audebert, who succeeded Kolasa in 2015, the estate continues to place close observation of the vineyard at the centre of its work. Horse-drawn cultivation and attentive, hands-on winemaking reflect a philosophy of measured intervention. Canon’s distinction lies in its ability to combine depth with delicacy, preserving the energy and refined texture associated with its plateau vineyards.

The 2011 blends 70% Merlot with 30% Cabernet Franc from the estate’s clay-limestone vineyards. An early growing season brought harvesting into September, with Merlot picked from 7 to 16 September and Cabernet Franc on 16 and 17 September. Grapes were harvested by hand and carefully sorted, with the selection managed under John Kolasa.

Parcels were vinified separately in temperature-controlled stainless-steel vats, using gravity to move the fruit and wine. Maceration lasted approximately two weeks, with pumping over and punching down to extract colour, flavour and tannin. Malolactic fermentation took place partly in vats and partly in barrels.

The wine matured for 18 months in French oak barrels, 70% new. This élevage contributed structure and subtle spice, supporting the fruit through a long period of bottle development. Its combination of freshness and fine tannins gives well-kept bottles continued drinking potential.

Alcohol: 13.5%. pH: 3.49. Recommended drinking window: 2014 to 2034.

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