CROIX CANON

Beautifully fragrant, fresh, crunchy, juicy, anis, fennel, cut herbs, well judged ripe fruits, good balance. Merlot harvest September 6 to October 4 (interesting to note this, as many had finished the Merlot very early, and Cabernet Franc to October 3). 27% new oak for ageing, and yields of 45hl/h. 3.42ph. Drinking range: 2027 - 2036 Rating: 92 Jane Anson, www.janeanson.com (May 2024)

The wine which takes fruit from the unclassified parcels belonging to Canon, with nothing declassified from Croix Canon. The yield was 45 hl/ha, and the blend is 54% Merlot and 46% Cabernet Franc, the recent pulling up of a 2-hectare parcel of Merlot dating from after the 1956 frost. Lovely purity on the nose, with the suggestion of tension and linearity, with crisp summer raspberries and blackberries, with a hint of rose petal and dark chocolate. The palate is indeed rather juicy and modestly composed, with a fresh and linear stance, quite elegant and sinewy, with a firm wrapping of limestone tannins. Plenty of limestone grip in the finish too. Rather a taut example of Croix Canon which should age nicely on that fresh acidity. Rating: 90-92 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2024)

As I wrote early this year, the last few vintages of this bottling have established 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), and the 2023 Croix Canon is further proof of that thesis. Bursting with aromas of raspberries, cherries, kirsch and licorice, this blend of 58% Merlot and 42% Cabernet Franc is medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a lively core of fruit and fine, elegantly chalky tannins. Rating: 91-93 William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (Apr 2024)