Chateau Phelan Segur 2014

DECANTER: "Right from the first nose you can sense the absolute quality of this wine, the depth of the cassis, bilberry, charcoal and chocolate scents. This is still extremely young and the tannins are at full attention, but there is so much complexity here and it's very clear that this wine is going the distance. I loved it at en primeur and it is shaping up brilliantly in bottle. You could drink in a few years with a carafing, but it will need another five or so years to really start to loosen up. A buy for me, it's great quality. The blend is rounded off with 2% Petit Verdot. 100% new oak.2

JAMES SUCKLING: "The spice and floral characters are fresh and perfumed. Walnuts. Medium body with firm and silky tannins and a linear and crisp finish. Orange peel undertone to the currants. Tight and racy. Needs two to three years to open up. Try in 2020."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Named after the man who gave his name to Château Phélan-Ségur, this wine reflects the same structure as its senior, grand vin partner. Solid tannins are backed by black fruits and intense acidity that promises aging. The wine has a good future, and will likely be best from 2021."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2014 Phelan-Segur has quite a punchy nose with blackberry, iris and iodine scents that shoot from the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a pleasant chewiness on the entry. This segues into a well balanced middle with well-judged acidity, crisp black fruit infused with graphite and a touch of sea salt towards the finish. It might not quite have the finesse of the top Saint Estèphe's, but there is clearly decent length and energy here. Tasted twice with consistent notes."

WEINWISSER: "Dichtes, kräftiges Rubinrot mit zartviolettem Rand. Viel dunkle Röstaromatik, Zigarrenkiste, Mokka, Tabak, Brombeeren und florale Noten, die an Lavendel erinnern. Im Mund erstaunlich füllig für den kühleren Jahrgang, entsprechend wirkt er frischer, kerniger und rassiger mit zupackender Säure, mineralischem Kern und leicht salzigen Anklängen im druckvollen Finale. Das könnte sogar noch zulegen."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Pure and expressive, featuring a lovely beam of cassis gilded with light lilac, wet pebble and tobacco notes that should emerge more with cellaring. Shows textbook typicity for the AOC. Best from 2018 through 2028. 12,500 cases made."