Chateau Calon Segur 2012

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Firm and structured, this beautifully concentrated wine has plenty of the dark tannins that come out of Cabernet Sauvignon in Saint-Estèphe while allowing room for juicy fruit. The wood aging is still showing, giving some spice to the wine. At the end, it's the density of the wine that's so impressive. Drink from 2024."

JAMES SUCKLING: "A silky and polished red with currant, walnut and black truffle character. Full body, silky tannins and a fine finish. It reminds me of the excellent 1995. Better in 2017."

WINESPECTATOR: "Dense but pure, offering suave plum, raspberry coulis and black currant fruit, and tobacco, tar and iron nuances. This is integrated and refined through the long finish, but lacks the vintage's austerity. Very nicely done. Best from 2017 through 2025."

ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Dark lustrous crimson. Sweet and aromatic. Polished – bit of a lounge lizard. Could do with just a little more vitality but a lot of work has gone into this! Not too big and the oak is very subtle. The group’s favourite wine of the flight."

DECANTER: "Superbly rich colour, nose still discreet but of great class, great purity of flavour, tannins present for the long-term, “an iron fist in a velvet glove”, a beautifully structured wine for the long term, the Lafite of Saint-Estephe. Drinking Window 2018 - 2035"

WINEADVOCATE: "The 2012 Calon Ségur, has an opaque ruby/purple color, very sweet black raspberry, black cherry and currant fruit, underlying forest floor notes, wonderfully sweet tannin, surprising up-front opulence and beautiful purity, texture and length. This is an outstanding effort and a strong wine in 2012. Drink it over the next 20 years, as the acidity is quite low and the wine already approachable."

ANTONIO GALLONI: "The 2012 Calon Ségur is dark, powerful and intense. Smoke, game, tobacco and dark stone fruits open up in a distinctly virile, imposing wine. Quite frankly, what stands out most is how much Calon Ségur has come in the years since French insurer Suravenir Assurances bought the property in July 2012. In 2012 the blend is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. The wine spent 19 months in 100% new French oak barrels. In my view Calon Ségur is one of the most dynamic and exciting reemerging properties in Bordeaux today. It will be fascinating to see what the new team headed by Estate Manager Laurent Dufau does here over the coming years."

WEINWISSER: "Tiefes Purpur, satt in der Mitte, Granatschimmer am Rand. Würziges Bouquet, floraler Schimmer, strahlt etwas kühlen Cabernet aus. Im Gaumen dann mit rotem Pflaumen- und Schalenton aufwartend, diese sind sowohl süss wie auch säuerlich, wirkt irgendwie unfertig und sucht nach Harmonie. Nur weil ich das Potenzial kenne, bin ich hier bereit, diese Note zu zücken. Ich werde ihn dann aber in der Flasche in zwei Jahren nochmals ganz kritisch anschauen. Ein zweites Mal direkt auf dem Weingut verkostet: gleiche Eindrücke!"

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, zart vegetal unterlegte Kirschenfrucht, ein Hauch von Pflaumen, blättriger Touch. Rotbeerig, frisch strukturiert, dezente Tannine, zitroniger Touch im Abgang, salzig-mineralisch im Abgang. Hat sich nun völlig zurückgezogen."

WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Cedar, tobacco, earth and truffle scents work well with the crisp, blackberry. Classic in style, there is a cranberry edge that shows with the firm tannins on the palate in the finish."