Château Canon La Gaffelière 2018

Fantastic depth and richness to the nose with plums, mushrooms, bark and some mahogany. Full-bodied, tight and focused with very fine tannins and a long, creamy finish. Lovely polish, balance and clarity. Drink after 2025.

Rouge grenat dense. Bouquet juvénile, marqué par la fraîcheur des baies rouges. Avec un peu d’aération, il révèle des notes crayeuses ainsi que des nuances de thym et de violettes. Agréable fraîcheur en attaque. Le vin a du corps, de la finesse et du tempérament. Une sorte de compromis entre grandeur et ténacité, entre ferveur et élégance. Un vin brillant de précision. 2026-2043

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Canon la Gaffeliere out of the gate delivers a seductive nose of plum preserves, kirsch and Black Forest cake with nuances of lilacs, underbrush, Indian spices and dusty soil. The medium to full-bodied palate is filled with black fruit preserves and loads of spicy accents, supported by chewy tannins and well-balanced freshness, finishing long and savory. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown

This has the clear edge over La Mondotte for me because it combines the polish and glamour of a St-Emilion Premier Grand Cru Classé with the salt taffy tang of limestone. Still a silky texture but a more attractive slate edge coming in on the finish to temper the sweet fruit and slow things down. A highly impressive wine. The harvest ran from 19 September to 4 October, with a yield of 35hl/ha. 50% new oak. Certified organic. - Jane Anson