Château Canon

History of the Château Canon estate

It was a privateer under King Louis XV, Jacques Kanon, who acquired the Saint Martin estate in 1760, thanks to the income from his missions at sea on behalf of the King. He built his home there and started growing vines. His successor, Raymond Fontémoing, took over the property and continued to develop the vineyard. It is to him that we owe the name Château Canon. The property was then bought by the Fournier family in 1919, then by the Chanel company in 1996.

The Château Canon estate in the heart of the Saint Emilion terroir

The Château Canon wine estate represents 34 hectares with a red grape variety. Merlot is in the majority, with 75%. It is completed by Cabernet Franc. The vines are between 25 and 35 years old. Three quarters of the vineyard are planted on a limestone terrace at an altitude of 87 metres, facing south/southwest. The last quarter of the vineyard slopes down towards the Dordogne valley. The chalky-clay soil works well for both grape varieties and walls surrounding the property create an enclosure that protects the vines from late frosts. The Château Canon estate is run under a reasoned plot management system. This allows the grapes to be harvested at full maturity, while respecting the environment. The production is 130,000 bottles per year.

The restructuring of the Château Canon estate

Since the purchase of the Château Canon vineyard in 1996 by Chanel, the vineyard has been completely restructured, thanks to a considerable investment. More than half of the vines have been uprooted and replanted. In addition, the buildings housing the winery were rebuilt and the vat room refurbished. The new barrel cellar is divided into three air-conditioned areas, each of which can house 300 barrels. Two cellars are dedicated to the first year, the third to the second year. The vinification lasts three weeks, with maceration at between 28°C and 32°C, in stainless steel vats under thermoregulation.

The Château Canon wine

Chateau Canon

Château Canon wine is a Premier Grand Cru Classé B in the Saint Emilion appellation. It is one of the region's most famous wines, with a strong character, typical of Saint Emilion wines. Château Canon has notes of red fruits - strawberries and raspberries - which contribute to an intense fruity bouquet. If you take the time to decant the wine, its nose changes and offers smells of morello cherry. Its palate is long and the fruity aspect of the wine remains for a long time.

Croix Canon

The second wine of Château Canon is the Croix Canon, also a Premier Grand Cru Classé. Very fruity, it is aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, with a small proportion of new barrels, which ensures a remarkable aromatic balance. Croix Canon is a complex wine with fruity and mineral notes.