2023 Chateau Calon Segur - 3eme Cru St. Estephe

Decanter.com – 96 pts – GH: *Sweet and fresh bramble berry notes on the nose. Some toast, liquorice, dark chocolate, tobacco, cedar and clove. Succulent and supple, this has a lovely energy and focus but with density and bite at the same time. Chalky, fleshy tannins fill the mouth but at the same time as a liquorice and slate flavour lingers on the cheeks. Both fruity and lean and straight at the same time. Not yet so harmonised, but there’s finesse and refinement to the expression and nothing feels out of place or too much. Has a juicy centre and a touch of sweet strawberries that lift the expression which is so pleasant. Ends clean and grippy. It’s very good and you can't fault the refinement, clarity and precision on show. More Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend than last year at 72%. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 55% grand vin production. 3.7pH. 45hl/ha yield. Ageing 20 months, 100% new.* - 04/2024

Falstaff Magazin – 96 pts – PM: *Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Nuancen von reifen Herzkirschen und kandierten Veilchen, Rosenblätter, schwarze Waldbeeren, feine tabakige Noten, etwas Nugat, Saftig, rote Kirschen, finessenreiche Struktur, fast cremige Textur, reife, seidige Tannine, zeigt Länge und Frische, animierende Stilistik mit Reifepotenzial.* - 05/2024

Vinum Magazin – 97/100 pts: *Himmlischer Duft, viel Tiefgang, ein Fächer von Aromen und ein Gaumen voller Präzision, dicht, fokussiert, messerscharfe Tannine, blitzsaubere Frucht, grandiose Länge. Ein raffinierter Calon, der Gänsehaut macht.*

WeinWisser – 18,5+/20 pts – GL, TW: *72 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 15 % Merlot, 12 % Cabernet Franc, 1 % Petit Verdot, 45 hl/ha. Dicht verwobenes schwarzbeeriges Bouquet, Palisander, Rose Powder, verführerischer Iris-Duft, Graphit und dunkle Schokopastillen. Am komplexen Gaumen mit straffer Ausrichtung, seidiger Textur, engmaschigem Tanningerüst, ein Modelathlet. Im konzentrierten Finale schwarzbeerige Konturen, tiefschürfende Mineralik und edle Bitterness. Ein maskuliner St. Estèphe, der seine DNA behalten sollte, daher wurde beim Blend zuerst der Cabernet Sauvignon aus den Lots zusammengestellt und dann Merlot (chargenweise) dazugefügt, um die Identität nicht zu verlieren.* – 04/2024

JancisRobinson.com – 17+/20pts – JL: *72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. 45 hl/ha. Cask sample. Dark-fruit and menthol notes. Less mid-palate volume than 2022 but some might prefer this slenderer version. Pure, long and focused with a lovely texture of tannin.* - 04/2024

Vinous.com – (94-96) pts – AG: *The 2023 Calon Ségur is a wine for readers who can be patient. In many recent years, Calon Ségur has been quite showy, but this is not one of them. Bold acids and huge tannins dominate at this stage. Bright red-toned fruit is a signature, but the 2023 is a powerful, young Calon Ségur that will clearly need time to come together. Bright acids extend the finish beautifully.* - 04/2024

Vinous.com – (92-94) pts – NM: *The 2023 Calon Ségur was picked September 6 to 30 at 45hL/ha. As usual, it is being aged entirely in new oak for a planned 20 months. It has a tight, cohesive bouquet of predominantly black fruit intermixed with wild hedgerow, tobacco and melted tar. The palate is medium-bodied with impressive grip on the entry—quite fresh, with a subtle marine tincture and a touch of Japanese nori in the background. It gently fans out on the finish, but it remains controlled and especially linear for Calon-Ségur, perhaps less swayed by the Merlot (15% of the blend). Classy.* - 04/2024

Thewinecellarinsider.com – (95-97) pts – JL: *The black fruits, dark red berries, flowers, licorice, spice, smoke, and crème de cassis in the perfume is a knockout! The wine is rich, balanced, well-defined, supple, creamy, and vibrant. The fruits have weight, depth, length, and purity. The concentrated layers of fruit start off strong, and keep on going. The refreshing waves of red with black fruits, sprig of mint, and touches of spice hang with you for close to 50 seconds in the up-beat finish. The wine blends 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot. 14% ABV, 3.7 pH. The harvest took place September 6 - September 30. Only 55% of the harvest was placed into the Grand Vin. Drink from 2030-2060.* - 05/2024