Chateau Canon la Gaffeliere, Saint-Emilion 2020

97 points Jeb Dunnuck
"Quite possibly the finest vintage of this cuvée I've tasted, the 2020 Château Canon-La-Gaffelière offers that rare mix of richness and elegance that makes this vintage so compelling. Classic notes of cassis, ripe black cherries, spring flowers, and truffly earth define the aromatics, and it's full-bodied and perfectly balanced, with beautiful tannins and a great finish. This is another stunningly good Saint-Emilion that will benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and have 2-3 decades of overall longevity."

97 points Vinous
"The 2020 Canon La Gaffelière is heady, sumptuous and totally exotic. A wine of depth and striking intensity, the 2020 possesses tremendous balance right out of the gate. Ripe red plum, blood orange, pomegranate, spice and leather all meld together effortlessly. There's real presence and depth here. Time in the glass brings out the purity of the flavors. The blend is 55% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. I can't wait to see how this ages."

96 points James Suckling
"Such clarity to this with redcurrants, stems, fresh herbs, blackcurrants, and cherries on the nose. Medium to full body. Very tight, fine tannins. It builds nicely and has excellent length. Class and reality here."

96 points Wine Enthusiast
"A richly structured wine, this shows great density. The blackberry flavors, layered with impressive tannins, are expressively ripe and promise considerable aging."

95 Wine Advocate
"A blend of 50% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2020 Canon la Gaffelière offers up inviting aromas of dark berries, plums, burning embers, rose petals, incense and bay leaf. Medium to full-bodied, velvety and layered, it's suave and perfumed, with melting, powdery tannins and a vibrant core of fruit. As ever, the elevated percentage of Cabernet Franc lends it a singular and compelling style."

95 points Wine Spectator
"Ripe, fresh and expressive, with beautiful mulberry, boysenberry and blackberry puree notes that work well with light sanguine, black tea and singed apple wood details throughout. Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon. Best from 2029 through 2040."

Jancis Robinson
"55% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc, 15% Cabernet Sauvignon. Organic certified by FR-BIO-10.
Very dark with garnet rim. Dark, savoury power with restrained but intense black fruit and just a hint of Cab Franc leafiness. Dry finesse in a relatively powerful wine. Long and refined. Fresh, too. Not yet trying to please but it does. 17.5+/20 points. (JH)"