95 POINTS
Jane Anson - Decanter
This famous St-Émilion is a 1er Grand Cru Classé (B) property, planted with 30% Cabernet Franc and 70% Merlot, is owned by Chanel who also owns Château Rauzan-Ségla in Margaux.
A classic Canon vintage, meaning one without excess, where the precision of the winemaking is able to shine. 2001 was the last year before the introduction of manual sorting (although there was always manual harvesting) but it doesn't seem to have done any harm. This is rich yet nuanced, with a seam of fresh minerality running alongside the merlot and cabernet franc fruit; cassis and redcurrant but just starting to head towards tertiary truffle-and-liquorice flavours in the best possible way. A wine that keeps an elegant distance, encourages you to take your time.
Shows a stronger singed alder note, with more aromatic details of black tea and mulled spice, giving way to a maturing core of macerated blackberry and raspberry fruit. Delivers woodsy hints through the finish, presenting excellent length and a buried chalky accent.--Non-blind Canon vertical (December 2016).
There’s a clarity and harmony to this wine now, with subtle aromas of berries, earth and hints of bitter chocolate. Medium-to-full body with fine tannins and a clean, fresh finish. Very fine indeed.
91 POINTS
James Suckling - Wine Spectator
Beautiful aromas of chocolate, berries, cherries and earth. Very complex and classy. Medium- to full-bodied, with very refined tannins and a long, fresh finish. A delicious, balanced red. Canon is clearly back on top and making excellent wines nearly every vintage. Best after 2008.
Robert Parker - Robert Parker Wine Advocate
A distinctive, structured, mineral-infused, medium-bodied effort, the 2001 Canon exhibits notes of damp earth, sweet cherries, and spice, a firm structure, and very good purity. This is clearly an estate on the rebound. Anticipated maturity: 2005-2014.
WeinWisser
(80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet France): Mitteldunkes Rubin-Granat. Recht Schlankes, aber lebendiges Bouquet, Johannisbeertouch, helles Leder, feine Kräuter, im Finale Spuren von Karamell und Pralinen, sehr gute Länge. 2009-2017. 17/20
Jacques Dupont - Le Point
Nez un peu gibier, touche de truffe, sous-bois, bouche épicée, fraîche, délicate, tanins soyeux, frais, élégant, délicat, bonne longueur, avec des notes cacao et épices, mûr à point. À boire, très savoureux aujourd'hui. 16/20