Canon-Fronsac is an appellation for wines produced in a small area in the east of the Bordeaux wine region. Its effective area is encompassed by the wider Fronsac appellation. Canon-Fronsac's southern boundary is marked by the Dordogne river, and it is close to Libourne - the town which gives its name to the Libournais region, home to prestigious appellations such as Saint-Emilion and Pomerol and Canon-Fronsac itself.
Like Saint-Emilion, just a few miles to the east, Canon-Fronsac is an attractive area of woodland and hills. It conjures up the more romantic countryside images of Bordeaux, and also has a rich history reaching back thousands of years, being a favorite of kings and nobility throughout history.
Theoretically superior to Fronsac, Canon-Fronsac has historically produced the most respected of the wines from the area. To be labeled Canon-Fronsac wines must be made from Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Malbec grapes, grown slightly away from the alluvial soils by the Dordogne, on the slightly higher land just to the north. This land is composed more of sandstone and limestone than clay, which lends it a certain resistance to hotter weather. In hot vintages like 2003, when August temperatures regularly exceeded 40ºC (104ºF), Canon-Fronsac wines proved more balanced than those from other far more famous Bordeaux appellations. Cabernet Sauvignon may also be included in Canon-Fronsac blends, but it is less commonly used because it doesn't ripen so well in the cooler soils here.
The second half of the 20th century was a time of improvement in both Fronsac and Canon-Fronsac's wines, as they attracted attention from further afield than their established European markets. New technology and winemaking philosophy has led to continued improvement in the wines made here, which now offer affordable alternatives to the high-priced wines of the Medoc, Pomerol and Saint-Emilion.
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