Chateau Calon Segur 2018

JEB DUNNUCK: "Easily the greatest example from this château that I've tasted, the 2018 Château Calon Ségur checks in as 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot aged 20 months in new French oak. This dense purple-hued beauty boasts a stunning nose of blackcurrants, crème de cassis, tobacco, baking spices, chocolate, and cedarwood. With full-bodied richness, a layered, multi-dimensional texture, gorgeous tannins, and one seriously long finish, it hits that palate with 15% alcohol, yet you wouldn't know it by tasting it, and the wine is perfectly balanced, has incredible purity of fruit, and stays fresh and lively, with a clean finish. This magical Saint-Estèphe can be drunk any time over the coming 20+ years."

WEINWISSER: "Dichtes Purpur mit zarten rubinroten Reflexen. Konzentriertes, enorm vielschichtiges Parfüm nach frisch gepflückten Alpenheidelbeeren, betörende Veilchen und edle Cassiswürze. Im zweiten Ansatz reife Himbeeren, Lakritze und parfümierter Pfeifentabak. Am royalen Gaumen mit einer Textur wie Samt und Seide, kakaoartiges Tanningerüst, perfekt stützende, vibrierende Rasse und einem traumhaften Adoniskörper. Im gebündelten Abgang verschlankt sich die Delikatesse und endet in einem langen Finale von schwarzen Johannisbeeren, dunklen Schokotrüffeln und edler Graphitnote. Da kann sich jeder Bordeauxfreund glücklich schätzen, der hier eine Kiste ergattern konnte – das war einer der gesuchtesten Weine während der Primeurs-Kampagne!"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Deeply colored, everything here is intense starting with the perfume. The nose rocks with its espresso, boysenberry, blackberry, spice, tobacco leaf, thyme and cocoa. Full-bodied, powerful, dense and intense, the wine lingers for over 50 seconds on your palate, which is a good thing, because you want to hold on to all those, creamy, opulent, voluptuous, ripe, sweet, pure fruits for as long as possible. The wine was produced from 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot, 14.9% ABV, with no touch of heat."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2018 Calon-Ségur is blended of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot (14.9% alcohol). It is anticipated to age for 20 months in barriques, 100% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs just a little coaxing before it reveals seductive notes of baked cherries, warm cassis, licorice and smoked meats with nuances of hoisin, camphor, Chinese five spice and dried roses with a waft of cardamom. Full-bodied and completely packed with concentrated black fruit and spice layers, it has a firm frame of grainy tannins and a wicked backbone of freshness giving an energetic lift to the very long finish. There's lots of brightness coming from the Cabernet Franc component in here, but it is nonetheless a decadent expression."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Aromas of redcurrants and plums with blueberries and black licorice, following through to a full body that’s so refined and polished, the tannins integrated wonderfully into the fruit. Fresh, linear and persistent. Real clarity and purity to this. Try after 2025."

FALSTAFF: "Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart rauchige Edelholzwürze, Nuancen von Cassis und Lakritze, frische Mandarinenzesten, ein Hauch von Wacholderblätter, mineralisches Bukett. Komplex, saftig, extraktsüße Textur nach reifen Herzkirschen, feine, gut integrierte Tannine, frischer Säurebogen, sehr gut anhaftend, Brombeeren im Nachhall, zeigt große Länge und sicheres Reifepotenzial. (2020–2060)"

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "This is a dense, generous wine. Swathes of black fruits are packed with concentrated tannins. Its power is palpable, as is its luxuriously rich future. The wine will take plenty of aging, so don't drink before 2027."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Ripe, fresh and well-defined from start to finish, this lets cassis and dark plum notes race through, carried by a graphite edge and backed with dark tobacco, warm earth and chestnut accents on the finish. Has serious grip and drive. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024 through 2038."

DECANTER: "Rose petal, cinnamon and cedar. An exotic feel overall held in by firm tannins that are welcome in the sense of the restraint that they add. Chocolate and coffee abound along with cassis fruits. I get the same impression as I did during en primeur - that this is a slightly atypical Calon-Ségur in its concentration and character, even though it has a seductive appeal. 3.75pH and a yield of 41hl/ha. Drinking Window 2026 - 2038"

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Bluer than some of its peers. Rich but open nose. Thick and sweet with the sweetness almost distracting from the tannin. Dramatic. Just very slightly chewy tannins."