CHATEAU CANON

Starting life as part of the Clos St-Martin vineyard, this Saint-Émilion estate was acquired in 1760 by Monsieur Jacques Kanon, thanks to the substantial profits he made as a privateer capturing English ships for King Louis XV. For 'privateer', read pirate; apparently, sometimes, crime does pay. Kanon expanded his holding outwards (did he, we wonder, capture the surrounding vineyards too?) before selling it to a Bordeaux wine merchant, Raymond Fontémoing, for a tidy sum.

From there it passed to the Fournier family, who ploughed much time and money into the estate and its vineyards. In 1996 it passed to Chanel. They, too, have undertaken extensive renovation and replanting.

The 32 hectares are made up of 70% Merlot and 30% Cabernet Franc, with the average vine age now close to 30 years following all the ferocious replanting. Classified a Premier Grand Cru Classé, Château Canon is widely recognised as a distinguished, superlative wine; ripe, mineral and opulent, a wine for those with the patience to wait.