Castle Calon Ségur - Saint-Estèphe 2010

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

93 / 100

byStephen Tanzerthe8/31/2013

Bright, full medium ruby. Deep aromas of cassis, cigar box, olive tapenade and licorice. Then vinous and penetrating in the mouth, with excellent lift to its complex flavors of dried cherry, cassis, tobacco, flowers, minerals and spices. Wonderfully suave but youthfully backward wine with a very long, smooth finish featuring noble tannins and fresh acidity. This will need a good eight to ten years to expand in bottle and should be long-lived. 93(+?) points

Wine Advocate

94 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe3/1/2013

The 2010 is performing well,. With Cabernet Sauvignon dominating the blend, the wine has a dense plum/purple color along with notes of underbrush, black currants, plum, licorice, smoky charcuterie and some roasted herbs in the background. Full-bodied, moderately tannic and set for an extremely long life, this will not be a wine to please those looking for immediate gratification. Rather, I would suspect this wine will close down even further in bottle and, despite its full-bodied, powerful, massive size, it will need at least a decade of cellaring before it is accessible. This is another 2010 capable of lasting 35-50 years.

This property has finally been sold to a syndicate involving a number of different elements, but given the greatness of this terroir, some fresh blood may ultimately push the quality of Calon Segur right up there with the likes of Cos d’Estournel and Chateau Montrose, the two reigning champions of this northern appellation.

94+

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

byNeal Martinthe2/7/2013

The Calon-Segur has a very fragrant bouquet with perfumed raspberry coulis, fresh strawberry, limestone and a hint of dried rose petals – very feminine for Calon-Segur – certainly a Saint Estèphe with great breeding. The palate is medium-bodied with superb acidity right from the start. It is taut, tightly coiled, brilliantly focused and though it does possess the bravura of Cos d’Estournel’s its precision and linearity is enthralling. Again, there is that graphite note just coming through on the aftertaste. This is classic Saint Estephe and a testament to the late Mme Gasqueton. Tasted November 2012.

Jamessuckling.com

96 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/3/2013

Sure pure fruit to this red with a minerality and floral undertone. You can smell the warm stones. Full body, with a beautiful depth of fruit and velvety tannins. Dense and balanced. Layered with a light salty and meaty character as well. Great length. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon. Try in 2017.

Wine Advocate

92-94 / 100

byRobert Parkerthe5/31/2011

2010 Calon Segur: A higher alcohol content (13.8% versus 13.4% in 2009), but lower pH (3.7 versus 3.9 in 2009) has resulted in a concentrated, textured wine that requires a decade of cellaring. It will keep for 35-40 years thereafter. The 2010 harvest at Calon Segur occurred between September 25 and October 14, and the final blend was 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. A dense ruby/purple color is followed by notes of plums, kirsch, licorice, incense and herbs. Full-bodied, moderately tannic, pure, fresh and precise, this beauty will require lots of patience from prospective purchasers. Anticipated maturity: 2020-2050. Drink 2020-2050(92-94+ points)

Wein Wisser

19 / 20

the5/31/2011

86% cabernet sauvignon, 12% merlot, 2% petit verdot. 14% Presswein. Wegen Hagels Halbierung des sonst üblichen Ertrages. Sattes Purpur-Granat. Warmes Cabernet-Bouquet, Somertrüffel, dunkle Hölzer und schwarze Oliven, viel Tiefe. Reiche Adstringenz, viel Tiefgang, schwarze Beeren. Eher feminin als barock, also atypisch. Vermittelt den Geschmack eines grossen, klassischen Jahrgangs. Ein Calon für die Ewigkeit! 2022-2060

Le Point

18 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/12/2011

Nez floral, silex, sous-bois, bouche tendue, minérale, frais, élégant, finale relevée, très fin, beaucoup de classe. O=2019 G=20 ans

Decanter Magazine

19 / 20

bySteven Spurrierthe4/30/2011

Superb expression of black fruits, sensational depth of supple/succulent flavours, great harmony, purity and length, for me the best Saint-Estèphe this year. Drink 2020-50. (19 points)

Jamessuckling.com

92-93 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/30/2011

A racy and refined red, with currants and hints of tobacco. Full and very silky. Delicate and elegant. Very long, with wonderful acidity. So friendly at this stage. A touch of fresh herbs. Like to see a little more concentration but outstanding. 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot and 27% Petit Verdot.

TAST

19 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/30/2011

Très grand vin d’une évidence et d’un naturel de constitution parfaits, liés au très fort pourcentage de cabernet sauvignon, le plus élevé à ma connaissance dans l’appellation (plus de 90%), avec ici aussi la supériorité d’un toucher de bouche inimitable, comme Lafite ou Ducru-Beaucaillou. Nous sommes aux antipodes de Cos d’Estournel dans la philosophie générale d’élaboration, mais en fin de compte les deux visions aboutissent à deux vins admirables.

Jancis Robinson

18 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/21/2011

86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot. With 14% press wine all in new oak. Extremely deep purple. Really racy and energetic on the nose (compared to Montrose..?) and with great saveur on the palate. The press wine is a little evident at the moment. Very racy and fine and terroir-driven. No added sweetness. Neat and long and very authentic. No extremes; no complexes; no obvious trying? Winemaker Vincent Millet worked at Ch Margaux eight years which gave him, he says, the technique of working the Cabernet Sauvignon to gentle effect. He felt he could add finesse to the tannins. Drink 2020-2035