Château Calon Ségur - Saint-Estèphe 2017 b5952cb1c3ab96cb3c8c63cfb3dccaca

Le Point

18 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe6/20/2018

Fruits noirs, onctueux, tanins fins, denses, beaucoup de finesse, juteux, pulpeux, petits tanins relevés par l’acidité, délicat.

Jeb DUNNUCK

92-94 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe6/12/2018

The 2017 Calon Ségur is a smoking effort and lends credence to the idea that the northern Médoc (Pauillac and Saint-Estèphe) was the place to be in 2017. Deep purple-colored, it’s packed with notions of ripe blackberries, black cherries, crushed rocks, and Asian spice characteristics that all flow to a medium to full-bodied, rich, concentrated, sexy 2017 that has more fruit, depth, and richness than most. The 2017 is a rough blend at the moment of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and the rest Petit Verdot, which will spend 20 months in new French oak.

Vinifera

96 / 100

byJacques Perrinthe5/28/2018

Nez aristocratique, qui paraît plus cabernet que l’assemblage réel, goudronné, plein, il se déploie par vagues. Grande chair et évidence en bouche, avec une forme rare de suavité dans les tanins. Le vin est ample, velouté, à la fois riche et tendu, d’une grande gourmandise, difficile à cracher. Hors classe pour l’année.

Vinous

90-93 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe5/15/2018

The 2017 Calon Ségur is a classy, polished wine. Conditions favored Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes up 76% of the blend. Open-knit and supple, the 2017 is surprisingly open and harmonious in the early going. Hints of espresso, mocha, red cherry jam, cinnamon and dusk of new French oak add accents, but it is the wine's gentle personality that stands out most. In some vintages, Calon Ségur speaks loudly. In 2017, the Grand Vin is hushed and yet very expressive. The blend is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Tasted three times.

The Wine Cellar Insider

94-96 / 100

byJeff Levethe5/11/2018

Spicy, sweet, fresh, earthy, red fruits, soft tannins and a sassy attitude create this wine’s demeanor. There is density with strong, chewy tannins. The finish is polished, rich and energetic, delivering a blackberry Asian zing, licorice and a dark cocoa endnote. It will take time -- at least a decade -- before this nonconformist is civilized. The wine was produced from 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot, reaching 13.2% alcohol with a pH of 3.70. The harvest took place September 15 to September 29.

Vinous

92-94 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/1/2018

The 2017 Calon-Ségur was cropped at 43.5hl/ha and underwent a 20-day cuvaison after which it is matured entirely in new oak for 20 months. It contains 13.2° alcohol. At the moment the aromatics convey the 100% new oak but there is sufficient fruit underneath. There is a palpable sense of “coolness” imbuing the aromatics and like other Saint-Estèphe barrel samples, it conveys a subtle estuary-like tincture. The palate is medium-bodied with saturated tannin, beautifully integrated new oak that lends this a silky texture. Perhaps this is the smoothest of all the 2017s I encountered within this appellation, a classy and sophisticated Calon-Ségur in the making and heightened by the thrilling tension towards the finish and the latent energy that lingers in the mouth. Excellent.

Wine Advocate

92-94 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/27/2018

The 2017 Calon-Ségur is tentatively blended of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Deep garnet-purple in color, it opens with pronounced black currants, crushed blackberries and fresh black plums with hints of cigar box, sandalwood and cinnamon stick plus a waft of mossy bark. The palate is medium-bodied, elegant, energetic and fresh with layers of black fruit, perfumed incense and fragrant earth notions, lingering nicely with exotic spices coming through on the finish.

Decanter.com

94 / 100

byJane Ansonthe4/25/2018

This is rich, with fresh blueberry and cassis notes. The fruit is on the elegant side, and this should be earlier to drink than the 2016 and even the 2014. Technical director Vincent Bache-Gabrielsen and the team took an interesting approach to building the mid-palate, increasing the persistency by re-integrating the press wine immediately after vinification, so having both free run and press wine together during maceration. Blending the press wine at such an early stage took a leap of faith, as did using so much of the young, nine-year-old Cabernet Sauvignon in the first blend. But it works - this is precise, balanced and appealing, building slowly over the palate. Yield of 43.5hl/ha, 40% of production into the grand vin. 3.7pH.

Drinking Window 2025 - 2040

WeinWisser

19 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/25/2018

76% Cabernet Sauvi­gnon, 13% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. 13,2% vol., 43,5 hl/ha. 20 Mona-te in 100% neuen Barriques. Dichtes Granatrubin mit violetten Reflexen. Ein erha-bener Duft nach reifem Cassis und verführe-rischem Veilchenduft, dahinter eine Sym­phonie von Waldhimbeeren und fernâstliche Gewürze. Am filigranen Gaumen mit einer faszinierenden Leichtigkeit, die Muskeln sind ganz zart anliegend und geben dem Wein eine unglaubliche Finesse, Seidige Tannine, perfekt ausgereift ohne aber an Spannung und Prâzision zu verlieren. lm sehr langan-haltenden Finale ein geniales Rückaroma von Kirschsaft und eine berauschende vanil-lige Süsse. Auf meine Frage, was Benn das Geheimnis dieses 2017er sei, antwortete der Technische Direktor Vincent Millet: «Es wur-den dieses Jahr mehr junge Cabernet Sauvi­gnon Reben für den Grand Vin verwendet und mehr âltere Merlot-Reben im 2. Wein, daher konnten wird diese unglaubliche Pra-zision ertangen.»

19/20 2025 - 2050

Jean-Marc QUARIN

17,5 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/17/2018

Wine Enthusiast

95-97 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/17/2018

This perfumed wine is rich in dark tannins and black currant flavors. It has lifted acidity and a wonderful juicy, balanced character. Very pure and well structured, this will be a great wine for aging. Drink after 2025.

Jamessuckling.com

94-95 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/6/2018

This is very delicate on the attack but it grows on the palate with firm and silky tannins that turn lightly chewy. Builds consistently. Compacted and tight.

Wine Spectator

91-94 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/4/2018

This is very pure and sleek in feel, with an iron note running from start to finish while cassis, cherry and damson plum fruit plays out. The long, focused finish has light bay and savory hints while letting the minerality sing.—J.M.