2019 Phélan Ségur, St-Estèphe

The 2019 Phelan Segur is composed of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet-purple in color, it needs a lot of shaking to wake up notes of baked plums, blackcurrant pastilles, and clove oil, followed by hints of tree bark, graphite, and tapenade with a waft of crushed rocks. The full-bodied palate is super tightly wound at this stage, featuring very firm, ripe tannins and seamless acidity, finishing very long and earthy. (LPB)

I've been a fan of Phélan-Ségur for a while now, as the wines are charming, age beautifully, and continue to be fairly priced. But ever since first tasting the 2019, it's been clear that it is a wine that is on another level altogether. The palate is classic St-Estephe, but the depth of fruit, the remarkable texture, and refined tannins display a level of detail that should have it in the conversation with some of the Northern Médoc's best in 2019. Although there's a lot of value in Bordeaux these days, a Left Bank gem operating at this level for this price is not to be overlooked. 2019 Phélan-Ségur is one that will be a joy to follow over the years to come, but feel free to check in early, as it clearly will have a ton to offer at any stage.