Chateau Canon is recognized as a Premiere Grand Cru Classe “B” of Saint Emilion. When buccaneer Jacques Kanon acquired the estate in April 1760, little could be imagine that, 250 years later, the château would be world-famous for its wine and ranked among the finest of crus. The estate is now comprised of 84.01 acres, and the average age of the vines is 30 years old.

When CHANEL bought Chateau Canon in 1996, having already acquired Chateau Rauzan-Segla in Margaux in 1994, it decided to invest heavily in the property to enable its wines to attain the full magnitude of a Saint-Emilion 1er Grand Cru Classé, once again. The vineyards, winery and facilities are as they are today thanks to a true concern to preserve the heritage of the past. The current General Manager is Nicolas Audebert, who worked formerly for Krug as well as Chateau Cheval Blanc.

Château Canon’s remarkable walled vineyard borders the entrance to the village of Saint-Emilion, and is located in the center of town. This unique plot of vines, surrounded by houses, is ploughed by horse and harvested by hand, respecting traditional practices. Its grapes go into the composition of the Grand Vin. The restructuring of Chateau Canon’s vineyards has restored the planting to its original proportions - primarily Merlot with around one third Cabernet Franc. With 30-40% Cabernet Franc, Château Canon’s planting is also typical of the Saint-Emilion appellation.

Grapes are harvested by hand and the wines are left to rest for at least two years before allowing them to be tasted-concealing real power under the fragility of their light hue.

CHANEL’s investment plan was complemented by the acquisition, in 2011, of a bordering estate on the foothills of the Saint-Emilion plateau. This 11-hectare vineyard, the flagship of the Saint-Emilion Grand Cru appellation, has spawned a new wine: “Clos Canon Saint-Emilion Grand Cru”- the second wine from Chateau Canon. A former 12th century chapel is home to this second wine, produced with all the expertise of the 1er Grand Cru Classé, and which has its own facilities, vat house and cellars for vinification and ageing. The name of this wine will be changing to “Croix Canon Saint-Emilion Grand Cru”.