Chateau Calon Segur 2017

WEINWISSER: "Purpurgranat mit rubinrotem Rand. Ein erotisches Parfüm nach reifen Pflaumen, viel Cassis und Kardamom. Im zweiten Ansatz verführerischer Veilchenduft, Nougatpralinen und reife Waldhimbeeren. Am eleganten Gaumen mit perfekt stützenden, reifen Tanninen gepaart mit einer genialen Rasse und einer enormen tiefgründigen Konzentration. Im gebündelten Finale vereinen sich Kraft und Finesse zu einem komplexen, nicht enden wollenden Crescendo mit dieser typischen leichten Arroganz. Zu Recht schwimmt dieser gesuchte St.-Estèphe weiter auf der Erfolgswelle."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "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."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "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."

JAMES SUCKLING: "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."

DECANTER: "This is gorgeous. Rich, silky, bright and perky, and full of grace. A real purity to the blueberry and blackberry fruits, and soft elongated tannins. Highly recommend for its classicism. Has the austerity of 2017 but gives it real polish, and it raises its game through the palate. 19 months aging."

JEB DUNNUCK: "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."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Spicy, sweet, fresh, earthy, red fruits, soft tannins and a sassy attitude create this wine’s demeanor. There is density with strong, chewy tannins. The finish is polished, rich and energetic, delivering a blackberry Asian zing, licorice and a dark cocoa endnote. It will take time -- at least a decade -- before this nonconformist is civilized. The wine was produced from 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, reaching 13.2% alcohol with a pH of 3.70."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, dezente Kräuterwürze, tabakige Nuancen, schwarze Beerenfrucht, feines Cassis, facettenreiches Bukett. Saftig, energisch und frisch strukturiert, Herzkirschen, angenehme Mineralität, rotbeerige Nuancen im Abgang, bleibt gut haften, feine Edelholzwürze im Nachhall."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Inky core with black-cherry rim. Ripe, dark and with a fine mineral cast to the cassis fruit, which is ripe but not sweet. Paper-fine tannins in many layers. Great ageing potential but also accessible. Deceptively accessible, suggesting lack of ageing ability, but I don't think that is the case. Cool, fresh, serious, fine cassis fruit. The finesse comes from the lack of sweetness but there's no lack of fruit. Dry, firm and very St-Estèphe, with tannin structure. But the structure is filled molecule by molecule with the fruit. It's so finely balanced. There's more firmness than in Cos but there's still excellent harmony. Opens to a hint of violets. Super-moreish and juicy even with the structure of the terroir."

WINE SPECTATOR: "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."