2017 Calon Segur Bordeaux Red

2017 Calon Segur

96 WE

Featured Review

Fine tannins give this wine its structure and its essence. It is a wine constructed with firmness, bringing out a dry core, allied to a more velvet character. The black fruits are developing well and the ensemble of the wine will be in perfect harmony. Drink from 2024. Wine Enthusiast

Wine Enthusiast | 96 WE

As you’d expect, the grand vin ratchets up the intensity. The 2017 Chateau Calon Segur is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, and 2% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot aged 20 months all in new barrels. This deep, inky hued 2017 boasts medium to full-bodied aromas and flavors of creme de cassis, leafy herbs, and mineral nuances. It stays tight and compact on the palate, has wonderful Saint-Estephe Cabernet character, ripe tannins, and is just a classic, balanced effort that will benefit from 4-6 years of bottle age and evolve for 25+ years.

Jeb Dunnuck | 95 JD

Graphite, wild herbs, bracken, violets and such spicy black and blue berries. The palate has impressive concentration, yet very supple, charming texture. Such impressively articulated tannin detail with very fine, long tannins and deeply integrated oak. This wine is so full of flavor and interest from start to finish. A blend of 76% cabernet sauvignon, 13% merlot, 9% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot. Needs three to four year to come around. Try in 2023 and onwards.

James Suckling | 95 JS

Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Calon-Ségur features warm plums, cassis, baked cherries and mulberries, earth, meats and cedar on the nose with notes of lavender and olives. The palate is medium-bodied, elegant and intense with firm, fine-grained tannins and great length, finishing minerally. This wine was aged in 100% new French oak barrels for 20 months. The blend is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.

Robert Parker Wine Advocate | 95 RP

The nose remains rather closed at this stage, but coaxing reveals notes of fresh fruit, blackberry, blackcurrant, and a hint of graphite. The structure is not nearly as deep and finely etched as for the 2016, but there is appealing delicacy as well as freshness to this lovely wine, one that should blossom over the next ten years. (Drink between 2030-2040)

Decanter | 94 DEC

Ripe and focused, featuring a solid core of plum and black cherry fruit, supported by a well-embedded cast iron note. Sweet tobacco, bay leaf and lavender details fill in the background while the fruit takes an encore on the finish. A very solid effort. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2021 through 2034. 6,666 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 93 WS

The 2017 Calon Ségur is attractive, but it has not come together as well as I had hoped it would. Soft and easygoing, the 2017 is decidedly light and lacking in both depth and complexity. Red/purplish berry fruit, rose petal, lavender and spice are some of the notes that develop in a soft, easygoing Calon that will drink well with minimal cellaring. Technical Director Vincent Millet and Estate Manager Laurent Dufau have done tremendous work at Calon over the last few years, but there was only so much they could do in 2017. Tasted two times.

Antonio Galloni | 91 AG

Type of Wine	Bordeaux Red : Picture in your mind a combination of cedar, lead pencil, blackcurrant, plum and mineral aromatics, and texture that caresses your palate like a playful lover. The experience is thrilling from the first whiff to the final seconds of a tannic, generous finish - that is what you'll get from a Bordeaux Red
Varietal	Red Bordeaux Blend : The inhabitants of the Bordeaux region of France have been cultivating wine-grapes for thousands of years. Ancient Roman ruins litter the vineyards from Saint Emilion to Graves where the art of blending Bordeaux varietals has been practiced and perfected over a very long history. Bordeaux’s climate, terroir and soils, though varied, provide the optimal growing conditions for the red grape varietals planted in the region. Rarely listed on the labels as “blend,” the red wines of Bordeaux are perhaps the most artfully designed and celebrated in the world. The calculated art of blending the native Bordeaux varietals is impressively accomplished in the most famous winegrowing region in the world. The phrase Bordeaux Blend which seems to have been coined by British wine merchants in the 19th Century relates as much to wines made from the blend as to the grape variety combination itself. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Malbec and occasionally Carmenere are the lead characters in the creation of Red Bordeaux Blends. Each plays a part in their own fashion and implemented in various combinations and percentages in each appellation within Bordeaux. Red Bordeaux Blends are majorly composed of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot, roughly making up 90% of all Bordeaux Blends. Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Malbec (occasionally Carmenere) are also important components and vital to the production of the region’s red wines. For simplicity, the winegrowing region of Bordeaux can be divided into three main appellations producing Red Bordeaux Blends; the Left Bank (Medoc), Right Bank and Pessac-Leognan (Graves). The Left Bank has a terroir comprised of a wide variety of gravel, stones, sand, limestone and clay soils on a natural terrain of gentle slopes. This sets the stage perfectly for the production of Cabernet Sauvignon, which is the dominant grape of the Left Bank. For example, Chateau Lafite (Paulliac) is composed of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon. The Right Bank is dominated by clay and limestone with sand and gravel, but the clay in the Right Bank is distinctly its own and adds to the health, growth and vitality of the vines of the varietals grown here. Right Bank wines are typically 80% Merlot-based, which are often denser, richer and mature earlier than those of the Left Bank (with exceptions – Petrus for example). Merlot is a vital component to Pomerol winegrowing and making. Cabernet Franc also plays a major role in the Right Bank, most notably, in Saint Emilion, where the infamous vineyards of Chateau Ausone and Chateau Cheval Blanc are planted to 55% and 52% Cabernet Franc, respectively. Chateaux that produce wines with a majority of Cabernet Franc are considered “old school” producers, but have perfected the use of Cabernet Franc, which was originally used as a blending grape. Pessac-Leognan (Graves) enjoys a temperate climate, natural hygrometry influenced by the ocean, and has a terroir composed of gravelly soil over a clay subsoil on sloping, hilly terrain. Natural drainage due to the hilly terrain as well as the gravelly soil structure are perfectly attuned to the Cabernet Sauvignon grape vine, which prospers under these conditions. Pessac reaps the benefits of having the terroir of both the Left and Right Bank as it contains gravel and clay. The clay sub-soil allows the growth and success of Merlot, as well as Cabernet Franc. It is home to the only First Growth not in the Medoc. The 50-hectare vineyard of Haut Brion is planted to 45.4% Merlot, 43.9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9.7% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. The percentage of Petit Verdot and Malbec may be lesser in quantity, but not in quality. They are vital to the region’s creation of Red Bordeaux Blends. The combination of Bordeaux varietals is legendary in the region, around the world and has influenced winegrowers worldwide to plant and vinify wines which resemble those of Red Bordeaux Blends.
Country	France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world. For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide. France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity. France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.

Producer	Chateau Calon Segur : Legend has it that Marquis de Segur is quoted as saying “I make my wine at Lafite and Latour but my heart is in Calon.” Those uttered words are said to have spawned the heart shaped logo of Calon. And now that famous saying lives forever on the label, where the drawing of a heart is prominently imprinted. Though Calon Segur dates as far back as 1147, which makes it a contender for the oldest property in Saint Estephe, it was Marquis de Segur who helped brand this iconic Medoc estate. As an important figure in Bordeaux history, de Segur held ownership of Lafite and Latour but also held a special place in his heart for Calon. Today, ownership has made great strides in implementing a serious program renovating the property which focuses on its wine making facilities. In following the trend to vinify on a parcel by parcel basis, the estate has replaced their old vats with new. The stainless steel tanks match each parcel of this large vineyard. The Left Bank estate produces on average close to 20,000 cases of its flagship each year. The wine is comprised of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. The terroir of this Grand Vin is rare and authentic; revealing both great delicacy and outstanding intensity. The magic of Calon is in this balance. The wine is aged in new oak barrels for 20 months, integrating the tannins of the oak with the tannins of the grapes harmoniously over time. This Cabernet Sauvignon expresses finesse without arrogance. The purity of the wine’s flavors, the delicacy of its texture, the greatness of its depth and length all come smashing through on the palate. Elegance is to be found everywhere.