2019 Château du Gazin Canon Fronsac

Suave, round, and fully open — dark cherry, blackcurrant, blueberry, violet, cedar, and a touch of coffee on the finish, with melted tannins, balanced acidity, and a length that belies the appellation's modest reputation. The 2019 Château du Gazin is 85% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Malbec from clay-limestone soils in Canon-Fronsac — farmed sustainably since the estate's transformation in 2004, with official organic certification achieved in 2022 after a 20+ year journey. The Robert family has been here since 1935 and the château itself dates to 1532 — Canon-Fronsac is the Right Bank appellation serious collectors discover when Pomerol and Saint-Émilion get too expensive. Same clay-limestone, same Merlot dominance, a fraction of the price.