2017 Calon-Ségur, St-Estèphe (Pre-Arrival)

Fine tannins give this wine its structure and its essence. It is a wine constructed with firmness, bringing out a dry core, allied to a more velvet character. The black fruits are developing well and the ensemble of the wine will be in perfect harmony. (RV) (3/2020)

This is gorgeous. Rich, silky, bright and perky, and full of grace. A real purity to the blueberry and blackberry fruits, and soft elongated tannins. Highly recommended for its classicism. Has the austerity of 2017 but gives it real polish, and it raises its game through the palate. 19 months aging. (JA) (11/2019)

As you’d expect, the grand vin ratchets up the intensity. The 2017 Chateau Calon Segur is 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, and 2% each of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot aged 20 months all in new barrels. This deep, inky hued 2017 boasts medium to full-bodied aromas and flavors of creme de cassis, leafy herbs, and mineral nuances. It stays tight and compact on the palate, has wonderful Saint-Estephe Cabernet character, ripe tannins, and is just a classic, balanced effort ... (2/2020)

Graphite, wild herbs, bracken, violets and such spicy black and blue berries. The palate has impressive concentration, yet very supple, charming texture. Such impressively articulated tannin detail with very fine, long tannins and deeply integrated oak. This wine is so full of flavor and interest from start to finish. A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. (1/2020)

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. (LPB) (3/2020)

The 2017 Calon-Ségur was bottled at the beginning of July 2019. This is clearly more intense and complex than the Marquis de Calon with blackberry, bilberry, traces of brine and discrete tobacco aromas. Classic in style with the Cabernet component clearly more expressive than previous vintages (a long-term policy as they reconfigure vineyard planting). The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and superb balance. There is a natural and effortless feel to this nascent Calon-Ségur, very focused with a "cool" and slightly reserved finish. Classy and, dare I say, it represents one of the few 2017s that may challenge its 2018 counterpart. (NM) (2/2020)

Ripe and focused, featuring a solid core of plum and black cherry fruit, supported by a well-embedded cast iron note. Sweet tobacco, bay leaf and lavender details fill in the background while the fruit takes an encore on the finish. A very solid effort. (JM, Web Only-2020)

Inky core with black-cherry rim. Ripe, dark and with a fine mineral cast to the cassis fruit, which is ripe but not sweet. Paper-fine tannins in many layers. Great ageing potential but also accessible. Deceptively accessible, suggesting lack of ageing ability, but I don't think that is the case. Cool, fresh, serious, fine cassis fruit. The finesse comes from the lack of sweetness but there's no lack of fruit. Dry, firm and very St-Estèphe, with tannin structure. But the structure is filled molecule by molecule with the fruit. It's so finely balanced. There's more firmness than in Cos but there's still excellent harmony. Opens to a hint of violets. Super-moreish and juicy even with the structure of the terroir. (JH) 17.5+/20 points (4/2018)