Calon Ségur - Saint-Estèphe 2020

Wine Spectator

95 / 100

byJames Molesworththe11/30/2022

This is among the more backward wines of the vintage, showing a slightly burly mix of chestnut, warm paving stone, bay leaf and burnished leather notes amid a densely packed core of black currant and bitter plum reduction. Really riveted, with a warm cast iron spine and a mouthwatering savory edge driving the finish. Lovely character in this wine. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2026 through 2040.

Vinous

91-93 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe6/25/2021

The 2020 Calon Ségur is a dark, brooding wine that is going to need a number of years to become approachable. Black fruit, gravel, smoke, chocolate, leather and licorice give the 2020 its distinctly virile feel. In two separate tastings, the 2020 has come across as quite potent and forbidding. This sample is more convincing than a sample I tasted this past spring, but I still don’t see Calon-Segur as having reached the level that has become customary over the last few vintages.

La Revue du Vin de France

98-99 / 100

the6/7/2021

C’est un Calon qui fera date. Dans le plus pur style du cru, ce Calon est spectaculaire d’éclat et de brillance dans l’expression de son fruit. Il déroule ses arômes en bouche et monte en puissance, tout en préservant une fantastique fraîcheur. Finement poivré en finale.

Le Figaro

96-98 / 100

the6/2/2021

Un nez frémissant d'iris et de violette, qui flatte les narines avec une belle impertinence. En bouche, une présence sombre et enveloppante, avec toutefois beaucoup de minéralité et d'élégantes notes salines. On reconnaît ici parfaitement la signature Calon Ségur, résolument ciselée, à la noblesse virginale d'une statue de marbre.

Vinous

88-90 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe6/1/2021

The 2020 Calon Ségur is deep, dark and massively concentrated. Huge, brawny tannins give the Grand Vin a brooding, rustic feel. Quite frankly, it is hard to see the 2020 being in balance. There is too much of everything - too much ripeness, too much tannin and too much heaviness. Perhaps this sample was not perfect. We will see.

Tastingbook.com

96 / 100

byMarkus Del Monegothe5/28/2021

Dark purple colour with violet hue and black core. Complex character with wonderful nose reminiscent of ripe blackcurrants, violets, elderberries, and hints of sloe. Elegant flowery character in the  background, mild spices, vanilla, cocoa complement the nose. On rich and multi-layered with great freshness, finesse and depth. A great Calon Ségur with very promising potential.   

Jeb DUNNUCK

95-97 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe5/28/2021

The flagship 2020 Château Calon Ségur is also brilliant and certainly brings up the intensity, depth, and richness, although it’s nowhere near the exotic, almost over-the-top style of the 2018. Gorgeous crème de cassis, tobacco, roasted coffee beans, lead pencil, and sappy herbs all define this beauty, which is full-bodied, beautifully balanced, and has incredible purity of fruit. It might have some up-front appeal as well, yet smart money will hide bottles for at least 7-8 years.

Vinous

92-94 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/27/2021

The 2020 Calon Ségur was picked from 24-30 September at 33hl/ha and after a 3-day cold soak at 10°C it underwent a 18-21 cuvaison. Matured entirely in new oak, it is backward on the nose, well defined, but broody and requires coaxing from the glass. It eventually reveals blackberry, cedar, wild mint and pressed iris petal aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins, a little angular on the entry, good acidity. The second half, though, feels just a little brutish at the moment, granular and grippy on the saline, briny finish. I appreciate the way in which the DNA of this estate comes through, though the 2019 showed far more finesse and panache. It may end up at the top of my banded score if it can pull together more clarity and complexity.

Decanter.com

98 / 100

byJane Ansonthe5/25/2021

A return to form in my eyes for Calon Ségur after the atypical 2018, rippling with elegance, balance and savoury blue fruits of Cabernet, with rose and peony flowers. Concentrated, chiselled and juicy, this has clear personality and equals the great, classically balanced vintages of Calon like 2016. A yield of 33hl/ha, 3.85pH, 100% new oak. Vincent Millet is now overall director as well as technical director, since the departure of Laurent Dufau in 2020.

The Wine Cellar Insider

96-98 / 100

byJeff Levethe5/21/2021

If you are not familiar with everything going on with Calon Segur these days, you need to taste this wine. Deeply colored, without hesitation the wine shoots from the glass with Asian spice, boysenberry, black currants, cedar, cigar box, tobacco leaf, lead pencil and forest leaf. Full-bodied, concentrated, powerful and rich, yet it is also balanced, refined, and intense. There is purity in the fruits, freshness and symmetry, ending with seamless waves of perfectly ripe, creme de cassis. Let this rest for at least a decade and enjoy for 3 or more decades after that. The wine blends 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. 13.8% ABV. 96-98

Wine Advocate

95-97 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe5/20/2021

The 2020 Calon-Ségur is a blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot. It is aging in 100% new French oak barrels for an anticipated 18 to 20 months. The alcohol is 13.8%. Displaying a deep purple-black color, it straight away springs up with bright scents of freshly picked black raspberries, kirsch and blackberries, needing considerable swirling to reveal a vast array of nuances—rose oil, cardamom, iron ore, graphite, lavender and aniseed. The medium-bodied palate has a solid structure of firm, ripe, grainy tannins and plenty of freshness supporting the tightly wound red and black fruit layers, accented by lots of mineral and floral sparks, finishing with impressive length and depth. Beautiful, beautiful wine!

Jamessuckling.com

95-96 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe5/12/2021

Tobacco and tea aromas with currants and wet earth. Full-bodied and chewy with blackcurrant flavor. Tannins build on the finish with lots of structure and intensity. Quite muscular.

Anthocyanes

97-99 / 100

byYohan Castaingthe5/11/2021

Mure, myrtille, légère touche épicée, notes de réglisse, fumé, très grande complexité. Racé et noble. En bouche, les cabernets sont cristallins, frais, très précis avec une structure tannique à la fois profonde et sur l'allonge. Très beau boisé. A la fois gourmand et frais. Aérien en finale. Voici un très grand Calon Ségur dans un style affirmé, très proche de son terroir, aérien et très élégant. Une très grande bouteille avec un gout spécifique d'iode et de fraicheur mentholée. Un très beau rapport qualité-prix.

Bernard Burtschy

96-97 / 100

byBernard Burtschythe5/10/2021

Falstaff

94-96 / 100

the5/10/2021

Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Ein- ladende dunkle Beerenfrucht, reife Pflaumen, etwas Nougat, feine Edelholzwürze unterlegt, kandierte Orangenzesten. Saftig, elegant, feine reife Kirschenfrucht, reife Tannine, zarte Süße im Abgang, bereits harmonisch, verfügt über einige Länge und angenehme Frische, sicheres Reifepotenzial.

My Bettane + Desseauve

96-97 / 100

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/7/2021