Château Croix Canon 2019

Order wines : Château Croix Canon 2019

Saint-Emilion - second wine of Château Canon

94/100 James Suckling

Ripe plums and berries with hints of dried flowers and cedar, following through to a medium-to full-bodied palate with a chalky and stony undertone to the plum and cherry character. It’s finely textured and long. 

  Croix Canon is often presented as the second wine of Château Canon, but this definition is actually reductive. Unlike many second wines made primarily from a selection of parcels rejected by the grand vin, Croix Canon comes from a vineyard largely dedicated to it, located on the western slope of the Saint-Émilion plateau. Its 10 to 11 hectares possess their own geological identity, blending limestone, clay, and erosion soils from the plateau. Moreover, the Canon team regularly emphasizes that Croix Canon is first and foremost a terroir-driven wine in its own right, crafted with the same exacting standards as the grand vin, but expressing the terroir differently.

Its blend showcases Merlot, accompanied by Cabernet Franc, two grape varieties that find particularly refined expression on these terroirs. Where Château Canon seeks the monumental depth and verticality of the vast limestone plateau, Croix Canon prioritizes charm, the vibrancy of the fruit, and a more direct approach, without ever sacrificing precision. Crisp red fruit aromas, floral notes, sweet spices, and that signature chalky character typical of Canon combine to create a profile that is both luscious and elegant. Vinified in the Chapelle de Mazerat, its dedicated cellar, it benefits from the same meticulous attention as the grand vin. What truly distinguishes Croix Canon is its ability to express the emotion inherent in the great terroirs of Saint-Émilion while remaining remarkably approachable.

Dense without being heavy, fresh without being austere, it offers a rare balance between fruity generosity and mineral tension. Some enthusiasts even consider it far superior to a second wine, so assertive is its personality. More than just an entry point into the world of Canon, Croix Canon is today a great Saint-Émilion in its own right, a sincere, vibrant, and deeply engaging wine, capable of offering a tasting experience that is anything but a mere "little brother."

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