Castle Calon Ségur - Saint-Estèphe 2008

Wine Advocate

93 / 100

byNeal Martinthe10/28/2016

Tasted from an ex-château bottle at BI Wine & Spirits Calon-Segur dinner in London. I praised the 2008 Calon Segur when I tasted it blind in 2012 and I have no reason to change my opinion three years later. Here it has a surprisingly deep hue for a 2008. The nose is very detailed and lively, more breezy and carefree than the 2009 with vivacious blackberry, cedar and graphite scents. The palate is medium-bodied and slightly brittle in texture on the entry. The acidity is beautifully judged here with superb balance: smooth and harmonious, though it just tapers in towards the edgy, maybe angular finish. This has a sense of joie-de-vivre perhaps not common in Calon-Ségur's wines. It is one of the best Left Bank wines in 2008 and given its price, one of its best values. Tasted March 2015.

Jamessuckling.com

93 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe12/20/2011

A solid red, with plum, spices and cedar character on the nose and palate. Coffee too. Full and dense, with a long finish. Solid red here. Superb for the appellation. Best after 2013.

Wine Advocate

90 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/31/2011

A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot, this is an outstanding wine made in a classic style. The tannins are high, but the wine possesses abundant notes of cedar, licorice, underbrush, black currants and cherries. Medium-bodied and dense, but structured and backward (as are most vintages of Calon-Segur), give it 7-8 years of cellaring and drink it over the next 20-25. Drink 2018-2041

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

90-93 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe5/28/2009

(80% cabernet sauvignon, 18% merlot and 2% petit verdot; a 50% selection for the grand vin; 80% new oak) Deep ruby-red. Captivating aromas of blackcurrant, sweet spices and milk chocolate, nicely lifted by hints of minerals and graphite. Enters the mouth creamy and fruity, with flavors of small berries and plum, then turns somewhat tighter and distinctly minerally on the long, smooth, restrained finish. This is classic claret, a wine admirably combining grace and power, and just one of a string of very fine wines from Calon-Segur in the last ten years. Denise Capbern-Gasqueton is still very active (at 85 years of age) in the day-to-day running of the winery, helped out brilliantly by technical director and winemaker Vincent Millet, who told me that "the long autumn saved us: in 2008 we started picking the cabs on the day we had finished in 2007."

Wein Wisser

17 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe5/5/2009

Mittleres Rubin-Purpur. Das Bouquet zeigt sich sehr würzig, schwarze und grüne getrocknete Pfefferkörner, Tabaknoten, Lakritze, dunkle, noble Hölzer. Im Gaumen recht fleischig, Kirschschalen, mittelfeine Tannine, gesunde, gut stützende Säure, mit Muskeln, aber auch leicht rustikaler Note. Liegt leicht hinter den Erwartungen. 2018 – 2028

Wine Advocate

90-93 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe4/30/2009

Perhaps that explains the elegant, but rich style of the 2008 Calon Segur, which is dominated more than usual by Cabernet Sauvignon. Cropped at 40 hectoliters per hectare, it is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot. Its sweet perfume of black currants, tobacco leaf, and licorice is followed by a wine with superb purity, good freshness, and a full-bodied style with ripe tannin as well as a long finish. Somewhat reminiscent of the 1996, although this vintage carries a much higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2008 should be relatively approachable given the sweetness of the tannins, and will evolve for 20-25 years.
Calon Segur’s harvest took place between October 1-16, not particularly late in the context of this vintage.

La Revue du Vin de France

17-18 / 20

the4/29/2009

Madame Gasqueton, aidée de Vincent Millet, directeur, continue, avec justesse, à imposer le cabernet-sauvignon dans l'assemblage du cru. Cette année, il représente 80%. Une forte proportion qui signe le millésime. Un choix judicieux car le cépage apporte ici ce qu'il a de meilleur quand il atteint sa pleine maturité. "On a commencé à récolter les cabernets-sauvignon à la date à laquelle on finissait de les ramasser en 2007", précice Vincent Millet. Les tanins structurent avec style le vin et laissent à la finale une maginifique senation de soyeux. Ce caractère "Cabernet" permet d'envisager un élevage de vingt mois.

TAST

18 / 20

the4/23/2009

Du très beau jus médocain, noblement aromatique, plus frappant par l’harmonie de sa texture et de son tanin que par son intensité de constitution, et très prometteur pour l’avenir en raison de sa très forte proportion de cabernet sauvignon. Le type même du médoc aristocratique, d’une politesse qui le conduit à adoucir ses contours et son autorité de construction. Un de mes médocs favoris, comme souvent.

Jancis Robinson

17.50 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/16/2009

Deep crimson. Very different. Spicy sweet nose – very fluid. Quite a contrast to the austere Montrose we have just tasted! Quite rich and supple and fireworks. Round and rather glorious though not at all tarted up. Very fresh. Firm and with great spin though no compromises. Very classic. A very confident vintage for Calon-Ségur. Drink 2018-32 17,5+

Decanter Magazine

18.50 / 20

bySteven Spurrierthe4/14/2009

Deep purple, pure, rich and aromatic blackcurrant fruit with a touch of wild roses, extremely elegant, harmonious with immense charm and sufficient depth to last a long time. The Lafite of Saint-Estephe. Drink 2015-30.

Wine Advocate

90-92 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/7/2009

Based upon 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, this has a deep garnet core. The nose has a distinct earthiness to it. Blackberry, a touch of pain grille and black pepper. A little rustic but charming. The palate is full-bodied, firm tannins, quite spicy and lively, blackberry, a touch of raspberry coulis and wild strawberry. Firm grip, masculine as always. Fresh with a touch of soy towards the bitter “chunky” finish. Quintessential Calon. Tasted March 2009.

Wine Spectator

88-91 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/6/2009

Very pretty spicy aromas, with currant and blackberry. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a delicate velvety texture. Balanced and easy, with a medium finish. 80 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 18 percent Merlot and 2 percent Petit Verdot. This is much more Cabernet than normal.