Deep garnet in color, the 2010 Canon la Gaffeliere delivers classic plum preserves, boysenberries and cigar box scents with wafts of underbrush, dried roses and cinnamon stick. Full-bodied, the palate is built like a brick house with a solid line of grainy tannins and racy freshness supporting the dense fruit, finishing with compelling purity and great length.-LPB

This takes the power of the vintage and puts it in its pocket for later, preferring instead to let mouthwatering briar, loganberry, mulberry and blackberry fruit strut its way forward, enlivened with roasted wood spice and supported by suavely but thoroughly embedded iron-tinged structure. Should cruise for two decades. Best from 2016 through 2035. – JM

Another 2010 that's just now at the early stages of its prime drinking window, the 2010 Château Canon-La-Gaffelière has a beautiful perfume of mulled cherries, crushed stone, currants, and sappy flowers. It's medium to full-bodied, has a seamless, elegant mouthfeel, still present tannins, and a great finish. Drink 2025-2045.

Full-bodied, lush, round, opulent, and vibrant with a solid focus on its core of ripe, sweet, dark, and red plums, black cherries, licorice, and herbs. I really like the opening floral accent in the nose. This is drinking just great today. Perhaps 45-60 minutes is ample decanting time. Drink from 2022-2040.

(WE 93-95 points) A beautifully structured wine that is both ripe and elegant. It is bolstered by tannins, the acidity a great cutting edge. The black currant fruits are already delicious, although the tannins promise a great future.

55% merlot 35% cabernet franc and 10% cabernet sauvignon. 45-year-old vineyard is situated in clay and limestone soils and sandy-clay soils for the section that lies further south on the plain. The soil on each plot here differs widely which requires terrific understanding of the soil in order to marry these varietals successfully. Yields were 28 hls/ha. Aged for 15-20 months in 80-100% new oak. Alcohol 14.5%. This has a rich potent nose that manages to combine both power and elegance. At this stage the nose is incredibly expressive rich and full of dark red fruits and cassis. This is very round on the palate plush and full-bodied and rich and is already showing its ample velvety tannins on the finish. Hold for five years before enjoying untl 2030+.

For a Saint Emilion, this seems to have a more classic, reserved bouquet that is well defined and crisp. There is a lot of energy here, very lifted with wet limestone percolating through the black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannins, spicy red berry fruit and a harmonious, silky texture. There is prudent extraction rendering this Canon-la-Gaffeliere very approachable in style, but perhaps without quite the structure on the elegant finish.