The 2016 Canon la Gaffeliere has a deep garnet color. It bursts on the scene with exuberant notes of juicy blackberries, plum preserves, and fruit cake, plus suggestions of clove oil, mocha, and Indian spices. The full-bodied palate is full-on rich and decadent, featuring velvety tannins and just enough freshness to match the concentrated black fruit and spicy layers, finishing with epic length.

The aromas are very complex with sweet tobacco, black truffles, blueberries and blackberries. Subtle. Menthol, too. Full-bodied yet so elegant. Structure with finesse and purity. The tannins are melted in the wine. Fabulous young wine. Try tasting it from 2023.

It is hard to believe you can buy a wine this good, with bottle age at this price. Packed with ripe, energetic, silky, red, and black fruits, the wine expresses purity, elegance, length, and depth. There is minerality, freshness, and while it is simply, fabulous to taste today, it is going to improve for the next 20 years with ease. Drink from 2024-2056.

One of the most elegant and seamless wines in the vintage is the 2016 Canon-la-Gaffelière, a blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc, and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon brought up in 60% new French oak. This medium to full-bodied beauty has brilliant minerality as well as tons of cassis fruits, notions of spice box, cedarwood, licorice, and dried earth, silky tannins, no hard edges, and a great, great finish. It shows the purity and elegance of the vintage to a T. Drink this fabulous Saint-Emilion any time over the coming 20+ years.

(WA93-95 points) The 2016 Canon la Gaffeliere is a blend of 55% Merlot, 35% Cabernet Franc and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon (vines organically certified) picked from 26 September to 15 October and matured in 60% new oak. The yield is 42 hectoliters per hectare. This offers one of the most cerebral aromatics that I have encountered from this Saint Emilion estate: mineral-rich red and black fruit, quite edgy, almost flinty in style. I adore the focus of these aromas that are wired directly into the olfactory senses. The palate is very well balanced and governed by the Cabernet component. The black fruit is lifted by some lovely graphite notes that lend it a very Left Bank-like personality. It is fresh, taut and linear with a very persistent finish. Unlike other vintages of Canon la Gaffelière, I feel that this will require four to five years in bottle. As good as the 2015 last year, it might even surpass it. - Neal Martin

Bold tannins, rich fruit and good acidity combine in a wine that is powerful while always fresh. With acidity and stylish black-currant flavors, the wine's fruitiness comes through the tannins, finishing with a juicy, perfumed aftertaste. Drink from 2025.

This delivers a very fresh, juicy ball of red and black currant preserve flavors laced liberally with bramble, roasted apple wood and sweet tobacco notes. Shows terrific purity, energy and drive, with a piercing echo of minerality through the mouthwatering finish. Best from 2022 through 2038. — J.M.

Another successful wine in St-Émilion, with the signature of careful extraction. Well-brushed black fruits and a lovely push-and-pull effect between supple tannins, rich fruits and fresh acidity. Certified organic since the 2014 vintage. Read more at https://www.decanter.com/wine-reviews/france/bordeaux/chateau-canon-la-gaffeliere-st-emilion-1er-grand-cru-11139#AaT5AfQjh2jQydkY.99