The 2023 Canon Bordeaux Blend from the Saint Emilion sub-region of Bordeaux, France, has garnered exceptional reviews from professional critics, highlighting its elegance, sophistication, and unique terroir.
James Suckling awarded this wine a perfect score of 100 points, describing it as "elegant and sophisticated already, with a really electric presence and length that goes on and on." He noted the wine's medium to full body, intense tannins, and vibrant acidity, crediting the limestone soils for creating a "unique wine" in 2023. The blend consists of 71% Merlot and 29% Cabernet Franc.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate gave it 98 points, with William Kelley praising its "aromas of mulberries and raspberries mingled with spices, rose petals, licorice, and violets." Kelley highlighted its seamless concentration and vibrant core of fruit, framed by sweet, powdery tannins and lively acids, concluding with a long, mineral finish, calling it another "brilliant wine."
Vinous also reviewed the wine positively, awarding it 96 points. Neal Martin pointed out its "perfumed bouquet with pure black cherries and touches of cassis and violet," though he noted it might not be as complex as recent vintages. He praised its "sappy black cherry fruit laced with iodine and veins of blue fruit" and its "sorbet-like freshness" with a lovely cracked black pepper note on the finish.
Jane Anson, giving it 96 points, emphasized the wine's "finesse and saline limestone character," with spiced plum and finely boned architecture. She noted its "mouthwateringly precise tannic grip and oyster shell salinity," and the careful harvesting process, which allowed for phenolic ripeness.
Decanter awarded 98 points, describing it as "another excellent wine from the team at Canon," with "deep florals, violets, black fruits, and cool fresh blueberries." The wine was praised for its "comfort in the mouth," balanced acidity, and sweet core, ending with wet stones and graphite touches.
Jeff Leve, with a score of 99 points, highlighted the wine's floral notes of violets, roses, and lilacs, along with cherries, plums, black raspberries, and spices. He noted the wine's balance between vivacity and sweetness, with a strong sense of crushed rocks and stones, and a racy finish.
Jeb Dunnuck, who gave it 96 points, called it an "ultra-classic wine" with "textbook limestone-driven, black raspberry, floral, chalky, and spicy aromas and flavors." He praised its balanced, elegant mouthfeel, ripe, polished tannins, and predicted it would evolve beautifully over 25+ years.
Finally, The Wine Independent also awarded a perfect score of 100 points, with Lisa Perrotti-Brown describing it as "absolutely ethereal," with bold notions of "juicy blueberries, fresh plums, and Bing cherries," and a medium to full-bodied palate shimmering with energetic black and blue fruits.
Overall, the 2023 Canon Bordeaux Blend is a standout wine of its vintage, celebrated for its balance, elegance, and terroir expression, making it a must-try for wine enthusiasts.