Château Tour Canon, 2017

STORY BEHIND THIS WINE

Canon-Fronsac is a sub section of the Fronsac appellation, the best part or the ‘classico’ section as the Italians would say. The soils of Fronsac and Canon Fronsac are essentially limestone and clay-over-limestone on the plateaus and hillsides, with areas of siliceous – sandy – clay at the foot of the slopes. The region is a bit of a hidden gem, unfairly overlooked in the rush to buy the classified wines of the Médoc and Saint-Émilion. Chateau Canon has almost 9ha of vines with an average age of 40 years, 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc and is aged 50% in barrels and 50% in vats.

OUR IMPRESSION

2017 was not the vintage of the century but a lot of very good wine was made. A late April frost damaged many vineyards but those who survived with rewarded by a dry but not too hot July and August. Consequently, the grapes ripened correctly but the wines have a degree less alcohol and more freshness, which is no bad thing, compared to the vintages either side of this one.