Calon Segur The Book (1989-1995-2003-2010-2016)

Wine Advocate 92: 1989 wines were made to go the distance, and this is truly one of the great examples. Drinking beautifully today, unfurling aromas of cherries and dark berries entwined with notions of cigars and black truffles. This wine is not only fleshy, muscular, silky tannins evolving into a long seductive finish. It definitely didn’t just endured, it improved and evolved into an aged worthy wine.

Wine Advocate 94: The vintage that raised the profile of the estate. Holding an endearing youthful bouquet, brambly red fruit with asphalt and marine influence. Medium bodied with supple tannins. A depth and backbone to impress with hints of secondary truffle and smoky notes that emerges with some aeration. This is one that seems to become more and more impressive with age. Robert Parker lauded this Calon Ségur at the time of its release, and years on, it is still fulfilling all its promises.

James Suckling 94: I always loved this wine from the first time I tasted it in 1998. It has such purity and power yet it's reserved and beautiful. It's one of the best Calons ever. I drank a bottle with some friends in Manhattan last week and it was the wine of the evening. It was full-bodied with silky tannins and a focused and intense finish. Lots of currant and berry character and hints of dried spices. It's finally opening up and giving real pleasure now like so many 1995 Bordeaux at the moment.

Wine Spectator 95: Incredible nose of crushed berries, flowers, spices and nuts. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a long, long finish. Powerful and solid. Builds on the palate.

Wine Advocate 93: This beautiful 2003 exhibits a dense ruby/purple color, a vigorous youthfulness, and plenty of mulberry, black currant and cherry fruit intermixed with notions of cedarwood, baking spices and roasted herbs. Ripe, medium to full-bodied, fresh and precise, this wine is just hitting full maturity where it should remain for another 10-15 years.

James Suckling 92: Very fruity, with blackberries, spices and flowers. Almost raisiny. Full, round, and pretty, with a lovely soft tannins structure and a long, long finish. This is pretty and balanced.

Wine Enthusiast 94: Truly a powerful velvety wine that still packs a walloping punch of Saint Estephe tannins. Fruit under these tannins are pure, ripe, black and generous. A dense palate that holds delicate chocolate notes, mineral and walnut skin. Fresh and precise, this wine is hitting full maturity where it should remain for another 10-15 years.

Wine Advocate 94: With Cabernet Sauvignon dominating the blend, the wine has an almost dense plum / purple color along with notes of underbrush. Plums laced with smoky charcuterie and roasted herbs lingers longingly in the background. Full bodied with moderate tannins that sets the wine for an extremely long life. With such powerful and massive size, it’s a wine that needs at least a decade of cellaring before it’s ready to seduce the most discriminating palate.

James Suckling 96: Sure pure fruit to this red with a minerality and floral undertone. You can smell the warm stones. Full body, with a beautiful depth of fruit and velvety tannins. Dense and balanced. Layered with a light salty and meaty character as well. Great length. Mostly Cabernet Sauvignon.

Wine Advocate 96: Utterly gorgeous wine that is living up to the promise of its showing at the En Primeur. Donning a deep garnet purple, it is slowly revealing warm red and black mixture of currents, kirsch and plums with wafts of earth, violets, chocolate wood smoke. Elegantly expressed fresh mint leaves accompanies the bold freshness supporting effortlessly densely packed black fruits. Chocolate and cappuccino notes swirl through the finish that only entices more.

James Suckling 98: Superb aromas of crushed berries, violets and sandalwood with hints of cedar and roses. Full body, very fine tannins and savory, delicious fruit. Vibrant acidity combines beautifully with the fruit and structure. Harmonious and attractive. Fine-toned. Try after 2024.

Vinous 96: The 2016 Calon-Ségur has a very concentrated, multifaceted bouquet of blackberry, blueberry, cedar and wild mint. I adore this – so involving and so intoxicating! The palate is very well balanced with succulent tannins and a fine bead of acidity, full of tension and poise.  Black cherry and blueberry emerge toward the satisfying, complete finish. A gorgeous Saint-Estèphe.

Wine Enthusiast 96: Fine perfumes from the 18% Cabernet Franc in the blend are balanced by the firm, dark tannins of the Cabernet Sauvignon. The wine has weight and richness as well as a bold, dark structure. It is going to take its time and this powerful wine will not be ready before 2025.