A beautiful red just opening now, with pretty currants, smoke and spice aromas that follow through to a solid core of ripe tannins, focused fruit and a silky, textured finish. Drink now or hold.

Tasted at Bordeaux Index annual 10-year on tasting from an ex-château bottle. At ten years of age, the Château Canon '04 is rather pinched on the nose, but gradually opens with scents of dusky black fruit, forest floor, mushroom and wet tobacco, the bottle at Bordeaux Index evolving some lovely minty tones. The palate is medium-bodied with a tart entry, perhaps just a little sharp at the moment but with fine structure towards the grainy, tobacco-infused finish. Moderate rather than long in length nevertheless, there is an attractive sense of masculinity here. Tasted March 2014.

Earthy, mineral-like nuances intermixed with cranberry and cherry notes are present in this medium-bodied, superficial, but complex, charming St.-Emilion. While lacking power and richness, it offers complex aromatics and flavors in a mid-weight, delicate format. Drink it over the next 10-12 years.

Dark crimson. Gunflint, iron and bloody meat – classic St-Émilion nose! Very juicy and captivating. All very harmonious with the tannins almost fully resolved. Classic stuff. Second favourite of the group. JR Feb 2014