Chateau Canon - Saint-Emilion

Château Canon is a Premier Grand Cru Classé château based in Saint-Émilion, Bordeaux. It owns pockets of vineyards just outside of Saint-Émilion, and a large parcel at the entrance of the township, which is almost completely walled in and is traditionally hand-harvested and ploughed by horses. This small vineyard is planted entirely with Merlot which is used in the Château Canon grand vin, along with a smaller proportion of Cabernet Franc from the estate's various other vineyards.

Jacques Kanon purchased the vineyard in 1760, but it wasn't until 1853 that the estate was officially named Château Canon. It was purchased by fashion giant Chanel in 1996, and the company set about renovating the cellars and vineyards with the aim of modernizing the brand. Much of the Cabernet Sauvignon was ripped out in favor of Merlot and Cabernet Franc, which were more suited to the limestone and clay soils. This revamp happened concurrently with that of Château Rauzan-Ségla in Margaux, which is also owned by Chanel.

More than 60 percent of Canon's vineyards are planted to Merlot. Most of the rest is Cabernet Franc, although a small portion of Cabernet Sauvignon survived the cull in the late '90s. The grapes are blended carefully to get the most from each: Merlot brings smoothness, finesse and intense fruit aromas, while Cabernet Franc brings structure and the ability to age. The 1959 vintage is seen as an icon of the estate, and even received 95 points from Robert Parker: a remarkable feat for a wine made from very young vines just a few years after the great freeze in Bordeaux in 1956.

The Château also makes the Croix Canon wine from an 11-hectare (27-acre) vineyard that borders the Canon estate.