Appellations

Phelan Segur 2020

St Estephe, Cru bourgeois

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Tasting Notes

The 2020 Phélan Ségur is powerful yet elegant, with so much to offer. There's terrific depth to the 2020, right from the start. Succulent dark cherry, leather, espresso, dried herbs, incense and spice infuse the 2020 with remarkable depth. Even with all of its obvious power, the 2020 has an element of sweetness in the tannin that is so alluring. It will be interesting to see if the 2020 opens a bit more with time in bottle. I suspect it will.

Score: 93 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2028-2050 Date: 23 February 2023

The 2020 Phélan Ségur is sophisticated, classy and polished. There is perhaps a bit less size than has become the norm of late, but that is not a bad thing at all. Sweet floral, spice, cedar and tobacco lend brightness to this mid-weight, beautifully persistent Saint-Estèphe. I especially admire the wine's aromatic presence and persistence. Tasted two times.

Score: 91 - 93 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2028 - 2045 Date: 04 June 2021

The 2020 Phélan Ségur is sophisticated, classy and polished. There is perhaps a bit less size than has become the norm of late, but that is not a bad thing at all. Sweet floral, spice, cedar and tobacco lend brightness to this mid-weight, beautifully persistent Saint-Estèphe. I especially admire the wine's aromatic presence and persistence. Tasted two times.

Score: 91 - 93 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Maturity: 2028-2045 Date: 01 June 2021

The 2020 Phélan Ségur, which was picked 16 September to 1 October, and is the first vintage with four varieties in the blend i.e. Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot as well as Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon. It fulfils the promise that it showed from barrel. Not quite as intense on the nose, yet it has retained that Pauillac-inspired allure thanks to those subtle pencil box and cedar scents infusing the black fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with a cohesive, well-knit entry. Lovely texture, very pure, this is one of the most seductive Phélan that I can recall at this stage and I adored the classicism and graphite note that lingers on the aftertaste. Superb.

Score: 94 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2025-2045 Date: 08 February 2023

The 2020 Phélan Ségur has a very intense and almost Pauillac-like nose of blackberry, pencil box and cedar aromas, complex and mineral-driven. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins and plenty of black fruit laced with cedar and tobacco, quite sturdy and conveying more substance than recent vintages. This impressive Saint-Estèphe has great potential and might well represent the appellation's best value for money.

Score: 93 - 95 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: Martin 2025 - 2045 Date: 28 May 2021

The 2020 Phélan Ségur has a very intense and almost Pauillac-like nose of blackberry, pencil box and cedar aromas, complex and mineral-driven. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins and plenty of black fruit laced with cedar and tobacco, quite sturdy and conveying more substance than recent vintages. This impressive Saint-Estèphe has great potential and might well represent the appellation's best value for money.

Score: 93 - 95 Neal Martin, Vinous.com Maturity: 2025-2045 Date: 01 May 2021

Getting a legit "wow" in the notes, the 2020 Château Phélan Ségur looks to be another incredible wine from the team of Véronique Dausse. A blend of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon 42% Merlot, and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it's a deep, almost inky-hued barrel sample offering gorgeous notes of crème de cassis, blueberries, damp earth, crushed violets, and graphite. With full-bodied richness, a round, layered texture, serious concentration, and building structure, this is the real deal and up with the gems in Sainte-Estèphe. While some wines show a softer, more forward style, this is firm, mineral-laced, and structured, and is going to reward a good decade of cellaring. The alcohol checks in at 13.5% with a pH of 3.7 and a whopping 88 for an IPT.

Score: 94 - 96 Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Date: 25 May 2021

Displaying a medium to deep purple-black color, the 2020 Phélan Ségur offers up intense notions of crushed red and black currants, black raspberries and fresh mulberries, plus suggestions of charcuterie, pencil shavings and cinnamon toast. The medium-bodied palate is elegantly styled and refreshing, delivering a firm, grainy texture to support the crunchy red and black fruits, finishing with a peppery kick.

Score: 90 - 92 Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2024 - 2039 Date: 20 May 2021

The austerity to the tannins works in this wine's favour giving a juicy grip to the concentrated blackcurrant and bilberry fruits without strangling them. Excellent stuff, finishing up with liquorice and smoked coffee bean. This is an estate that has just powered to better and better wines over the past few years. Yields were 10% below the average of the past five years but still at 40hl/ha. Harvest September 16 through to October 1, finishing around 10 days earlier than the past two years. Consultants Michel Rolland and Julien Viaud. First vintage with Petit Verdot included in the main wine (2%), from vines planted in 2013. Tasted twice.

Score: 94 Jane Anson, Decanter.com Maturity: 2026 - 2042 Date: 19 May 2021

Full bottle 1,350 g. Cask sample taken 6 April. 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot. A St-Estèphe property with a relatively low proportion of Cabernet. Rather astringent at this point. I have been a fan of this property and the clays of this commune should have produced something quite special but I'm not convinced by this particular vintage. Stringy finish. No fun at all at this point!

Score: 15+ Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Date: 09 May 2021

Bright and perfumed with some chocolate, berry, sandalwood and cedar. Very elegant and fine, medium to full-bodied palate with very integrated tannins and refined, polished texture. The tannins melt into the wine. Long finish with serious structure. Vivid and refined. Class here. Very Bordeaux. 54% cabernet sauvignon, 42% merlot, 2% cabernet franc and 2% petit verdot.

Score: 95 - 96 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 16 April 2021