Croix Canon (2nd label of Château Canon) 2018

The 2018 Croix-Canon has a lovely, high-quality nose of exuberant black cherry and black plum fruit, perhaps showing more mineralité than when I tasted it from barrel. The palate is medium-bodied with an edgy, very graphite-infused entry, still smooth but with a sharp fresh finish and residues of cracked black pepper lingering on the aftertaste. Excellent. 2022 - 2038

This is not a second wine of Canon but a separate vineyard that borders Canon at one small section. The 2018 Croix Canon is made up of 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet Franc, with a pH of 3.69 and 14% alcohol. Deep garnet-purple in color, it opens with Morello cherries, black raspberries and stewed tea notions, giving way to hints of menthol, tobacco, sandalwood and fragrant earth plus a waft of dried mint. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has surprising elegance with plenty of freshness lifting the softly textured red and black fruit preserves, finishing on an iron ore note.