Tight and dense still but so integrated and seamless in texture. Aromas of chocolate, hazelnuts, dried spices and currants. Full body, superfine tannins and a texture that is so caressing and beautiful. Drink or hold.
Drinking Window: 0000 - 0000
Reviewer Name: James Suckling
ExternalLink: www.jamessuckling.com
External Id: James Suckling Tasting Notes
Deep, bright ruby-red. Deeply pitched aromas of black raspberry, black cherry, leather, smoked meat, earth and menthol. Chewy, brooding and deep, with concentrated black cherry, menthol, mineral and leather flavors framed by a powerful spine of acids and tannins. Really saturates the palate on the tannic back end. I'd give this classic St. Estephe a decade of aging, at which time this wine may well merit an even higher score.
Drinking Window: 0000 - 0000
Reviewer Name: Stephen Tanzer
ExternalLink: www.vinous.com
External Id: Vinous Tasting Notes
Tasted from an ex-château bottle at BI Wine & Spirits Calon-Segur dinner in London, the 2005 Calon Segur is on par with the wonderful 2000. The only real difference is that this needs more time in bottle. It has a captivating nose: blackberry and boysenberry fruit coming at you at full pelt; dried blood and bacon fat developing as secondary aromas just behind. There is fine delineation here - an underlying mineralité sure to surface with time. The palate is very intense and disarmingly youthful, almost ferrous on the entry with layers of ripe black fruit that segue into an earthy finish (with a curious light tang of Marmite on the aftertaste!). It is a fabulous Calon Ségur, though the millennial wine might ultimately possess greater precision. We will see. Tasted March 2015.
Drinking Window: 2020 - 2050
Reviewer Name: Neal Martin
ExternalLink: www.robertparker.com
External Id: https://www.robertparker.com/articles/RZ7NRvGgNzmFE7M8h
Pretty classy, the nose of raspberry and blackcurrant
coulis leads to an elegant palate of fresh bramble fruit and black cherries.
Usually, it is in the shadow of its sister property, Grand-Puy-Lacoste, which
is more expressive than usual. The nose is opulent and inviting, but what
follows is a model of elegance, with tannins, acidity and fruit seamlessly
interwoven. The finesse of the tannins was noticeable, albeit absorbed by the
glorious weight of fruit. There are layers of flavour, texture and a beguiling
combination of elegance and power, with an unusually high amount of Cabernet
providing fine structure.
Historic records show that Calon Segur was in existence as far back as 1147, when it was owned by Monseigneur de Calon. He was an important Bishop in the community. This makes Chateau Calon Segur a contender for the oldest property in Saint Estephe. Eventually the Medoc property came to be owned by Nicolas Alexandre de Segur. Which as you can see is where the name Calon Segur comes from.
Historic records show that Calon Segur was in existence as far back as 1147, when it was owned by Monseigneur de Calon. He was an important Bishop in the community. This makes Chateau Calon Segur a contender for the oldest property in Saint Estephe. Eventually the Medoc property came to be owned by Nicolas Alexandre de Segur. Which as you can see is where the name Calon Segur comes from.
Instead, a heavy clay and limestone base dominates this area, resulting in poorer-draining soils, delayed ripening, and higher acidity levels in the wines.
These factors mean that, over the last few decades, many Saint-Estèphe's winemakers have increased their emphasis on Merlot, as it performs better on clay-rich soils than Cabernet Sauvignon. Because wines from here have traditionally been rather austere and tight in youth, Merlot also serves to soften the texture. Clay soils ability to retain moisture can come in handy during the occasional drought-like summers that have been known to bring a Bordeaux vintage to its knees. Other grapes permitted are Cabernet Franc, Carmenère, Côt (Malbec) and Petit Verdot.