Chateau Calon Segur - in Geschenkholzkiste 2009

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2009 Calon-Ségur is deep garnet in color and opens with a beautiful fragrance of redcurrant preserves, cassis, black cherry compote and red roses plus nuances of cigar box and cinnamon stick. Medium-bodied and wonderfully elegant in the mouth, it has a compelling line of very ripe, fine-grained tannins and oodles of freshness supporting the fragrant layers, finishing long and perfumed."

DECANTER: "This strikes exactly the right note aromatically: it's wonderfully sexy, smoky, intriguing and tantalising. On the palate it follows up these aromatics perfectly with silky-smooth tannins and well brushed damson and black cherry fruits. It's fully ripe but still with give and subtlety. Great stuff! 2009 saw the highest percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon ever included in this wine. Drinking Window 2020 - 2044"

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Attraktive Edelholzwürze, feines Zedernholz, Röstaromen, dunkle Beerenfrucht und reife Herzkischen sind unterlegt, mineralisch, Grapefruitzesten, ein facettenreiches Bukett, Nuancen von Kardamom sind unterlegt. Am Gaumen mittlere Komplexität, schwarze Kirschen, präsente Tannine, frischer Säurebogen, salzige Mineralität im Abgang, kann bereits angetrunken werden, braucht aber noch seine Zeit."

JAMES SUCKLING: "With a lot of fennel and earth character this is a classic St.-Estèphe, but on the palate it has a suppleness that's modern in the best sense. Needs time to soften. Drink or hold."

JEB DUNNUCK: "A big step up over the 2008 and, I suspect, the finest wine from this estate in the 2000s, the 2009 Château Calon Ségur reveals a healthy ruby hue to go with textbook notes of red and black currants, tobacco leaf, damp earth, gamey meats, and Asian-like spices. This is classic, traditionally made Bordeaux, with full-bodied richness, a layered, structure mouthfeel, wonderful sweetness of fruit, and a great finish. A wine that starts out tight and reserved yet builds with air, don't be afraid to give bottles plenty of air if drinking any time soon. It's certainly in its drink window, yet also has another 30-40 years of longevity ahead of it."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Delivers gorgeous aromas of blackberry, blueberry and licorice, with hints of tobacco and spice. Full-bodied, offering a lovely texture and refinement. Very long and beautiful, with tangy acidity and lively fruit. A rich, yet very balanced, Calon. This is almost all Cabernet Sauvignon instead of the normal blend with 40 percent Merlot. The château is now using 100 percent new wood. Like the changes."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Secondary notes of wet earth, tobacco, truffle, spice are just now coming to the surface. A bit firm for the vintage, with some leafy, herbal nuances accompanying the Cabernet Sauvignon, the wine is still young. Give it another decade in the cellar."