(NM94-96 points) Tasted at a negociant tasting, the Canon ’12 has a perfumed, mineral-rich bouquet with vibrant red berry fruit that blossom in the glass. As usual, it is understated and refined. The palate is medium-bodied with very fine tannins, a silver thread of acidity and a rather masculine, structured finish that comes at somewhat of a surprise. This is a cerebral Canon that will repay cellaring. Excellent.

Deep garnet in color, the 2012 Canon storms out of the glass with powerful notes of baked blackberries, prunes, and scorched earth leading to hints of sandalwood and tobacco with a waft of dried herbs. The medium to full-bodied palate delivers a generous core of mature black fruit and savory layers, with a chewy texture and a stewed tea note on the finish.

Tasted from several bottles in recent months, the 2012 Canon is a stupendous wine for the vintage and if anything, it appears to be improving with each encounter. It clearly serves up more than enough volume and fruit intensity on the nose compared to the impressive 2011 Canon: it is very pure with black cherries, wild strawberry, asphalt and blood orange. This is very well defined and beautifully focused. The palate is medium-bodied, silky smooth and with that thrilling sense of frisson. There is so much vivacity wound up inside this Saint Emilion that it would not surprise me if it turns out to be one of the very best in 2012. Tasted January 2017. - Neal Martin

(93+ points) The 2012 Canon is a rich, smoky, meaty 2012 that checks in as blend of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc. Ripe black cherries, melted licorice, chocolate, and a touch of scorched earth all emerge from this classic, structured effort that has terrific concentration, a pure, backward style, ripe tannin, and a great finish. It’s nowhere near ready for primetime (this wine didn’t start to open up until the second day after opening) and needs a solid 5-7 years of cellaring but will see its 30th birthday in fine form.

Very expressive with lovely aromas of blue and black fruits, graphite, cedar and rose petal. Sweet fruit dominates the palate and lingers on the finish with hints of mineral, earth and espresso coming through. The density and fruit should give this solid and elegant offering long life. 70% Merlot, 30% Cabernet Franc.

Majoring on saffron and tobacco leaf aromatics, this has a delicate delivery of minerality and power, a tightrope balance of soft leather, strawberry and rasberry, with layers of mandarin peel and white pepper spice. Lace-like delicacy to the tannins, enjoyable and ready to drink. 80% new oak, 35hl/h yield, 3.66ph. Harvest October 3 to 15. John Kolasa was director of both Canon and Rauzan Ségla for this vintage.

Crushed stone, espresso, truffle and roasted plum create the already complex aromas. On the palate, the wine is soft, medium/full bodied with a sweet, spicy, elegant, finesse styled, soft, black cherry and thyme finish. Read more at:https://www.thewinecellarinsider.com/search-wine-tasting-notes/?szSearch=2012+Canon

The 2012 Canon just misses a little delineation on the nose, smudged red berry fruit, desiccated orange peel, camphor and fresh figs. The palate is medium-bodied with rounded tannins, a generous dab of white pepper sprinkled over the red fruit, clove and sage towards the balanced and focused finish. Perhaps just compromised by the aromatics at the moment, but I might leave this in bottle to see how it evolves. Tasted twice at Bordeaux Index's Ten Year-On tasting and blind at the Southwold Ten-Year On tasting. -- Neal Martin