Chateau Phelan Segur 2021

JAMES SUCKLING: "Very refined with a mineral and chili chocolate twist to the fine spices and cassis with a touch of iron and pencil shavings. The juicy, medium- to full-bodied palate shows symmetry of chalky tannins and fruit concentration. More refined, layered and long than it is compact or broad. Still, the finesse and minerality are evident. Drink now or hold."

WEINWISSER: "75 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 21 % Merlot, 4 % Petit Verdot, IPT 85, 13.5 Vol.-%. Verführerisches Bouquet, frisch gepflückte Schattenmorelle, Johannisbeergelee, getrockneter Rosmarin und zartes Veilchenparfüm. Am delikaten Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, herrlicher Extraktfülle, perfekt stützender Rasse, engmaschigem Tanningerüst in einem durchtrainierten Körper mit feingliedrigen «St. Estèphe-Krallen». Im konzentrierten Finale mit edler Cassiswürze, Szechuan-Pfeffer und fein sandiger Adstringenz. Hier ist alles am richtigen Platz. Viermal verkostet, immer auf dem gleichen Niveau. Ein zeitloser Klassiker!"

DECANTER: "Fragranced roses, raspberry and vanilla nose. Smooth and supple, a nice juicy core. Clean and clear, good use of oak and extraction. A pleasant and really enjoyable glass of wine with bright red fruits, fine silky tannins and a long mineral finish. Becomes a bit more serious on the second taste, the tannin mass amplifying in the mouth, growing in structure. This is a good example and wil age too. Has some density and character."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Black raspberries, chocolate, dried roses, spice and sweet black cherry aromatics bland together in the perfume. The palate is even better with all of its soft, sweet, fresh, polished, lively red fruits, spices, and dash of salty cocoa that pops in at the end of the finish. This should be quite enjoyable shortly after release. The wine blends 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, which is the highest percentage of Cabernet used in Phelan Segur. Drink from 2025-2040."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "The 2021 Phelan Segur has a medium to deep garnet-purple color. It needs a fair bit of shaking to wake up notes of red and black currants, fresh blackberries, and crushed stones, plus nuances of espresso, cedar chest, and pencil lead. The medium-bodied palate is tightly wound with black fruit and earthy layers, framed by firm, grainy tannins and bags of freshness, finishing long and savory."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Beautiful black raspberries, cassis, violets, spicy herbs, and spicy oak all emerge from the 2021 Château Phelan Segur a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot brought up 18 months in 55% new French oak. It's medium-bodied, has a supple, incredibly elegant mouthfeel, ripe, polished tannins, and beautiful overall length and elegance. It's another polished, classy, and incredibly seamless wine from director Véronique Dausse and her team. It will drink well with just 2-3 years of bottle age and should see its 20th birthday in fine form."

WINE SPECTATOR: "Shows gently mulled loganberry and black currant fruit flavors that have some breadth, atypical for the vintage, while a mix of black tea, potpourri and singed cedar notes fill in the background. Reveals a pretty accent of warm earth on the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2035. 10,000 cases made."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart floral unterlegte Nuancen von Cassis und Brombeeren, zarte Edelholzwürze, frische Orangenzesten. Saftig, rotbeerig und frisch, gut integrierte, präsente Tannine, mineralisch im Abgang, frisch, mit einigem Potenzial ausgestattet."