2001 Canon

Tasted at the Chateau Canon vertical, the 2001 Canon is a good if not great contribution to the vintage, though within the context of great Right Bank wines, I am convinced that it should be better. It has a nicely defined nose that rather lacks some elegance and complexity: red pastilles, a touch of cherry liqueur and balsamic. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, quite mature for a 2001, leathery and a little loose knit with an attenuated, soy-tinged finish. This is just so-so. A second bottle is poured and granted, it is better. But it still does not match the bar set by what was a great Right Bank vintage. It just seems rather conservative, unwilling to make the effort to create a great Canon a la 2005, 2009 or 2010. Tasted October 2015. Mar 2017, www.robertparker.com

Neal Martin    Score: 86/100