Exuberant and explosive, the 2014 Canon La Gaffelière is quite forward in style, yet all the elements seem to come together. An open, exotic bouquet melds into sweet red cherries, plums, spices and dried rose petals. The high percentage of Cabernet Franc gives the wine considerable aromatic lift and tons of personality. Floral and savory Franc notes abound on the super, long finish. The 2014 is 55% Merlot, 37% Cabernet Franc and 8% Cabernet Sauvignon.

The 2014 Canon-la-Gaffelière has a clean and pure bouquet with black cherry and raspberry coulis mixed with rose petal and tobacco scents. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin, and gentle grip. This is nicely proportioned with a fresh, marine-like finish that beckons you back for another sip. Another typically refined and succinctly crafted Canon-la-Gaffelière. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. - vinous.com, March 2018

Gorgeous succulence to the fruit here – plum, black cherry and a bit of redcurrant too. Lovely to get such fruit complexity early on. Attractive liquorice character on the finish. The light body is the only slightly underwhelming part – but that's not an objectively bad thing, necessarily. (RH)

Tasted blind. Garnet with brick rim. Subtle evolved aromas of undergrowth and cigar box and still some dark fruit. Fine, powdery tannins. Elegant, fresh and harmonious if perhaps a touch drying on the finish. (JH)

Dark healthy-looking blackish crimson. Overripe notes on the nose. Very definitely playing the mass-and-alcohol card but there are slight green notes on the end. Fast fade. Not the way to go. (JR)