2017 Calon-Segur
By Chateau Calon-Segur
2017 Calon-Segur from Chateau Calon-Segur, St-Estephe, Bordeaux
Amidst the historic vineyards of St-Estephe, nestled along the Left Bank of Bordeaux's exalted river, Chateau Calon-Segur crafted something quite extraordinary with its 2017 vintage. The year in question was by no means straightforward for Bordeaux vignerons, marked by spring frosts that sparingly whimsical in their visitations; yet, from challenges arose triumph in select parcels where resilience and care bore fruit deserving of accolade.
Vintage Virtuosity: The Art of Adaptation
The 2017 offering from Chateau Calon-Segur reveals its story: a narrative spun from vines that withstood nature’s caprice. This vintage embeds itself within the memory with eloquent expression and assured grace. Its composition is a reflection of terroir met with adept husbandry; a blend favouring Cabernet Sauvignon, harmoniously accompanied by Merlot, showcasing the estate's traditional fingerprint whilst adapting elegantly to the year's unique conditions.
The Patina of Potential: Wine as Investment
The foresight of wine investors centres around identifying vintages with a confluence of quality and rarity. The whispered conversations amongst cognoscenti suggest a keen eye should indeed be cast towards the 2017 Calon-Segur. It represents a sterling addition to any well-curated wine portfolio with the dual promise of ample pleasure and prudent investment.
In the glass, one can expect this paramount example to exude cherries dark as midnight, entwined with cassis and a subtle but certain underpinning of tobacco leaf and graphite – all encased in a structure deft in integration that suggests potential for lavish evolution over time.
Much like the architectural beauty of its chateau, the 2017 Calon-Segur is a jest to extravagance in a poised and classical form. Styled by nature’s trials yet unwavering in its potential for cellar maturation, here exists an offering tailored for those who discern not just quality but also the character shaped by adversity overcome. As it continues to develop, its chapters will unfurl for those patient enough to let such narratives mature.
Market price (USD)
$1,000.00
12x75cl
Highest score
95
POP score
54.67
Scores and tasting notes
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.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com
Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2017 Calon-Ségur features warm plums, cassis, baked cherries and mulberries, earth, meats and cedar on the nose with notes of lavender and olives. The palate is medium-bodied, elegant and intense with firm, fine-grained tannins and great length, finishing minerally. This wine was aged in 100% new French oak barrels for 20 months. The blend is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 16 March 2020
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.
Wine Spectator - James Molesworth - winespectator.com
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.
Wine Advocate - Lisa Perrotti-Brown - robertparker.com
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.
Neal Martin - Neal Martin - vinous.com - May '18
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.
Antonio Galloni - Antonio Galloni - vinous.com - May '18