Château Calon Ségur - Saint-Estèphe 2016 11166fe81142afc18593181d6269c740

Wine Advocate

96 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe11/30/2018

The 2016 Calon-Ségur is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot aged in 100% new French oak for 20 months. Deep garnet-purple colored, it is a little closed to begin, slowly revealing warm red and black currants, kirsch and plum preserves with wafts of fragrant earth, violets, chocolate box and wood smoke. Medium to full-bodied, elegantly expressed and finely crafted, it has a wonderfully fine-grained texture and bold freshness supporting the densely packed black fruits, finishing long and mineral-laced.

Decanter.com

96 / 100

byJane Ansonthe10/30/2018

Wein Wisser

19,5 / 20

the5/22/2017

60 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 20 % Merlot, 18 % Cabernet Franc, 2 % Petit Verdot, 14 vol %, 20 Monate in 100 % franz. Barriques gereift. Sattes Purpur mit violettem Rand. Konzentriertes, blaubeerigesBouquet mit viel Veilchen und Kokosnoten, dahinter Brombeere, Cassis und Schattenmorellen. Am Gaumen erst mit seidiger Textur, packt danach aber sanft zu und präsentiert den muskulösen Körper mit gewaltigem Potenzial. Trotzdem bleibt er immer tänzerisch und endet lang mit feiner Adstringenz und Rasse. Wer Finesse sucht, sollte hier unbedingt zuschlagen! 2025 – 2050

Le Figaro - L'Avis du Vin

18,5 / 20

byClub Vinthe5/15/2017

Petits fruits noirs, mûre, myrtille, rose, floral. Bouche ample, fruitée, joli jus, tannins ronds et crémeux, joli toucher de bouche, belle vivacité en finale.

Bettane & Desseauve

98 / 100

by Bettane & Desseauvethe5/3/2017

Sensationnelle présence en bouche, avec un fruit particulièrement noble et une texture vraiment aristocratique, le premier issu du nouveau cuvier. Il rivalise avec les premiers crus, comme quelques-uns de ses pairs ! 60 % de cabernet-sauvignon, 18 % de cabernet franc, sans doute la proportion la plus élevée du Médoc à ce niveau de classement, ce dont nous nous réjouissons, 20 % de merlot.

Wine Advocate

95-97 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/2/2017

The 2016 Calon Segur is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot cropped at 42 hectoliters per hectare between 29 September and 15 October (finishing with the Cabernets and the Petit Verdot). Notice that Cabernet Franc, which excelled not just here but around Saint Estèphe in this vintage, given that there was not a drop in the 2015. It has a very elegant bouquet, very pure with small macerated black cherries, blueberry, a hint of licorices and juniper berries, all effortlessly detailed and exuding what I term "controlled opulence." The palate is medium-bodied with a sense of symmetry on the entry, the acidity very well judged and the tannins far less rustic than the Calon-Ségurs of old. What I like about this Calon-Ségur is that it could not come from anywhere apart from Saint Estèphe: that structure, that obduracy counterbalanced by the opulence bestowed by the growing season. There is freshness locked in here from start to finish, with a subtle tang of seaweed and black pepper on the long aftertaste. For me this is a serious step up from the 2015, and the structure augurs a Calon-Ségur destined to last as long as those legendary wines from the 1920s and 1940s. Chapeau to winemaker Vincent Millet and estate director Laurent Dufau. This is easily the best Calon-Ségur that I have tasted from barrel.

Jean-Marc QUARIN

19 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/28/2017

Le meilleur jamais fait avec le 1982 ! Couleur noire et pourpre. Nez intense, fin, profond, fruité, subtil et complexe. Grande entrée en bouche ample (ce qui est très rare dans ce cru). Puis le vin se met à fondre sur un toucher noble, avec beaucoup, beaucoup de goût. Juteux après le milieu de bouche et très distingué dans ses appuis tanniques, il s’envole en finale, charnu et noble. C’est du grand vin à l’équilibre merveilleux. Superbe ! Assemblage : 60 % cabernet sauvignon, 18 % cabernet franc, 20 % merlot, 2 % petit verdot - Degré d’alcool : 14° (moyenne plus) – pH : 3,6 (moyenne moins). IPT : 80 (moyenne plus). Rendement : 42   hl/haSélection : 33 % de grand vin.

The Wine Cellar Insider

97-99 / 100

byJeff Levethe4/27/2017

Incredibly dense with a beautiful sensation of forbidden fruit in the nose and on the mouth. There is weight, balance, freshness and complexity, imparting perfectly ripe, dark red, pit fruits and minerality is what this beauty does best. The wine was produced from 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 0.2% Petit Verdot , reaching 14% alcohol with a pH of 3.75. The harvest took place from September 20 to October 25. 

Vinous

94-97 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe4/26/2017

The 2016 Calon Ségur is dense, powerful and radiant. Even so, it possesses striking aromatic intensity. Much of that no doubt comes from the Cabernet Franc. Sweet red cherry, plum, spice, mint and rose petal build into the silky, textured finish. In 2016, Calon Ségur is all class. There is quite a bit of tannin (more than 2014 and 2015) but the tannins are totally woven into the wine's fabric. The 2016 is not an explosive or obvious Calon, but rather a wine of exquisite beauty and pure class. Don't miss it! As of today, the best Saint-Estèphe wine of the vintage.

matthewjukes.com

18,5 / 20

byMatthew Jukesthe4/25/2017

There is stunning balance and even a little exoticism here. This is a rich, full, bold Calon with momentum, freshness and lift. Stunningly forward with cassis fruit leading the way this is a lovely, clean, robust and structured wine which will age perfectly. Winemaker Vincent Millet explained that this vintage stands alone as a marker for the future because the weather conditions resemble nothing from the past. I believe that it is a truly great Calon. 18.5+60 Cabernet Sauvignon, 20 Merlot, 18 Cabernet Franc, 2 Petit Verdot) | 100% new oak – will be matured for 20 months. 14% alc. 80 IPT

Decanter.com

96 / 100

byJane Ansonthe4/24/2017

An extremely complete and well balanced vintage for Calon Ségur that shows how, with the right levels of acidity, tannin and depth of fruit, even 100% new oak can melt away. This is one of the signs of a great vintage and we have it here in spades. Great definition on the darkly spiced palate, with powerful cassis, liquorice, mint and violets that are dense yet feathery, with chalky tannins that need time to bed in. I love that the tannins are extremely high (80IPT) but not upfront, helped by a pH of 3.6. Just 35% of production made it into the grand vin because so much replanting was done back in 2006, although this should ramp up as the vines mature - they believe the potential is for 70% grand vin. The blend is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Drinking Window 2027 - 2050

Jancis Robinson

18,5 / 20

byJancis Robinsonthe4/21/2017

60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 20% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot. Rich, deep, glowing purplish crimson. Pungent and really interesting and layered on the nose already. Creamy texture and massive energy. Lots of tannin but all beautifully balanced. This is seriously intriguing rather than just ticking boxes. Glows on the end. Old-vine influence – really gives layers and intrigue. Sweetness of tannin. But the freshness really lifts it.

Wine Enthusiast

95-97 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/19/2017

Barrel Sample. This wine is dense, packed with fruit and firm tannins. It is a great success, with a strong black-currant character of ripe Cabernet Sauvignon. There is also a perfumed edge from the Cabernet Franc in the blend. This is a wine with enormous potential.

Wine Spectator

94-97 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/10/2017

This sports a dark fruit core, a mouthwatering iron edge and a long, tobacco-accented finish. The broad and racy feel gives this a distinctive profile. This should put on some weight.—J.M

Jean-Marc QUARIN

19 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/10/2017

Le meilleur jamais fait avec le 1982 !Couleur noire et pourpre. Nez intense, fin, profond, fruité, subtil et complexe. Grande entrée en bouche ample (ce qui est très rare dans ce cru). Puis le vin se met à fondre sur un toucher noble, avec beaucoup, beaucoup de goût. Juteux après le milieu de bouche et très distingué dans ses appuis tanniques, il s'envole en finale, charnu et noble. C'est du grand vin à l'équilibre merveilleux. Superbe !

Jamessuckling.com

98-99 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/5/2017

Wow. This is the Calon we have been waiting for! Intensity and power. Chewy and polished tannins. Full body, great depth. It goes on for minutes. Shows a classic, historical character that really excites me. The essence of this estate and St.-Estèphe. Best ever?