Calon Ségur 2015

I loved the 2015 Calon Segur and while it’s true the northern Médoc is less successful in 2015, this beauty is certainly one to seek out. Based on 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot and the rest Petit Verdot aged all in new barrels, its deep ruby/purple color is followed by gorgeous notes of crème de cassis, blackcurrants, toasted spices, lead pencil shavings, and hints of dried flowers. While it’s not the most concentrated wine of the vintage, it has medium to full-bodied richness, polished tannin, and a gorgeous elegance about it that keeps you coming back to the glass. Drink it over the coming 20-30 years. 2018 - 2043

Perfumed a touch of spice the nose is fresh and fragrant. The start of the palate light but there is mid sweetness the fruit underpinned by fine tannins. It fills out a bit at the back some ripe cassis but the finish is fresh, light and fragrant.

Among the top performers in St. Estèphe, as it nearly always is, Calon has made a stylish,refined red in 2015. Perfumed and floral, with structured, chalky tannins and intense blackand red fruits. A triumph over adversity in a tricky vintage for the northern Médoc.Drink: 2024-32

Very direct and very pure, this is a remarkably restrained wine and while the acid level is exactly the same as in 2009it seems more pliable and more forward than any young Calon I can remember. The acidity is its key. This wine is afacsimile of an ancient style of Bordeaux, with tender fruit and firm acidity. The tannins are fully integrated, crisp andrefreshing. Winemaker Vincent Millet thinks it will make 40 years, while admitting that it already looks ravishing. Thegreat difference these days is the physiological ripeness of the grapes at balanced alcohol levels and this makes the winemuch more acute and also more delicious in its youth. The weather was rainier here than in most places but they havegreat exposition and very good aeration and so the wine is very clean and fresh. The tannins are tense but not drying onthe finish and the nose is already floral and hypnotic - this is a truly dreamy wine and it accurately resembles the heartit wears on its label.

The 2015 Calon-Ségur has a fresh and very well defined bouquet of raspberry, wild strawberry and crushed stone aromas, very focused and beautifully integrated new oak. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin, well judged acidity, lightly spiced and quite saline toward the marine-tinged finish that fans out beautifully. There is classiness in this Saint-Estèphe and it should age with grace. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

The 2015 Calon-Ségur, which was bottled in July 2017, has a very composed bouquet with blackberry, cedar, pencil shaving and light earthy aromas that are well defined. This opens nicely on the nose, revealing light crushed violet aromas and ratcheting up the fruit with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with very supple tannin, well-judged acidity, surprisingly approachable (and I say that having tasted more of the last 20 vintages at the château). I like the finesse of this Calon-Ségur and contrary to my remarks from barrel, following its barrel maturation it has become more approachable. As such, you could consider broaching this within 5 or 6 years. One to watch—it may merit a higher score in the future. Anticipated maturity: 2021 - 2045.

The 2015 Calon Segur is a blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot (no Cabernet Franc in the Grand Vin this year). It was picked from 8 September until 5 October at a yield of 47 hl/ha and is matured in 100% new oak for the next 20 months. The Cabernet Sauvignon dominates the aromatics with blackberry, cedar and graphite aromas: quite linear, nicely focused and reserved compared to the 2014 last year. The palate is understated on the entry, the tannin very fine and the acidity very well judged. Like the nose, the Cabernet drives this wine forward: structured and a little "brittle" in the mouth, perhaps the most Pauillac-like Calon-Segur that I have encountered over many years of tasting. Afford this several years in bottle. Drink 2022-2040

This is very fine and integrated with black currant, walnut and fresh tobacco. Full body, pretty polish. Sophisticated. Well done for the vintage for this appellation.

Dark crimson. Pure and aromatic. Pretty dense and dry with a hint of sweet oak. Solid and concentrated. All set for the long term. Pretty introvert. Edgy finish but more sweetness than there used to be. Intense - more intense than usual for this property. A little attenuated on the end. Very solid indeed! 13.3%Drink 2024-2036