Calon Segur 2013

St Estephe, Third Growth

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Tasting Notes

The 2013 Calon Segur is a Saint Estèphe that should not be ignored. It has developed an attractive bouquet with blackberry, graphite and a hint of vanilla in the background. No, it is not an intense bouquet, yet winemaker Vincent Millet has conjured aromatics that frankly shade many other Left Bank properties this year. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin and crisp acidity. There is tangible energy here with a cohesive and silky textured finish. What is lacks in depth it compensates with a sense of panache. It will be earlier drinking than other vintages, but the class comes through. Bravo to Vincent and his team for making the best wine they possibly could in this challenging vintage.

Score: 91 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2018-2032 Date: 28 October 2016

The Calon Segur 2013 is a blend of 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot delivering 13.1% alcohol raised for 20 months (eventually) entirely new oak. There was a little chaptalization with respect to the Cabernet Sauvignon. It actually included 19% vin de presse, which was included in this sample. The wood comes through quite strongly on the aromatics at first and at the moment it seems to dominate the fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with tobacco infused black fruit. This is balanced with well-judged acidity, a little softer towards the finish than previous recent vintages. It is a pleasant Calon-Segur but it needs to develop more personality, but it is a successful wine considering the growing season.

Score: 89 - 91 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Date: 01 April 2014

The 2013 Calon Segur is unquestionably one of the stars of the vintage. The harvest ran from early October for the Merlot grape and to the second full week of October for the Cabernet Sauvignon. I don’t recall (although I’d have to go through all my notes for the last 3-4 years) a Calon Segur with this high a percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon, as Merlot has always been a prominent player in the final blend. It is opaque purple in color with a glorious nose of incense, crème de cassis, licorice and a touch of graphite. The wine is full-bodied, opulent, fleshy and surprisingly deep and dense, especially for a wine from this vintage. It is almost atypically thick and rich for a 2013. Nevertheless, the tannins are soft and the wine should be relatively approachable after 2-3 years bottle age. This is a property on the move, upward. Smart and shrewd readers will take a look at this vintage, as well as future vintages of Calon Segur, a terroir with true first-growth potential.

Score: 92 - 94 Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Date: 01 August 2014

The highest Cabernet vintage ever here with 92% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. A ripe nose with nice concentrated black fruits at the core, with nice weight of licorice, minerals and black plums. Juicy and vivacious with a lovely, long pure fruit finish. Very harmonious and polished. Vincent Millet (formerly winemaker of Chateau Margaux ) has made a beautifully elegant and polished Calon.

Score: 91 - 94 Albany Vintners, - Date: 01 April 2014

This has freshness and cut, with lively bay and savory notes leading the way for a mix of red and black currant fruit. Iron-tinged minerality lines the finish, featuring judicious, integrated toast. A very solid effort.

Score: 89 - 92 James Molesworth, Wine Spectator Date: 01 April 2014

The 2013 Calon Ségur is refined and polished to the core. Sweet tobacco, graphite, crushed rocks and dark fruit all meld together in the glass. A wine of notable grace and elegance, the 2013 is all about finesse. A pure crystalline finish rounds things out in style. This is a promising showing. (90-92+ Points)

Score: 90 - 92 Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com Date: 01 April 2014

Wonderful expression of Cabernet Sauvignon (92%), cassis, slightly smoky, all elegance from St-Estèphe, a finely polished wine.

Score: 92 Decanter, Decanter.com Date: 01 April 2014

This is fresh and spicy with currant and berry character. Medium to full body with hazelnut, currant and hints of cloves.

Score: 89 - 90 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com Date: 01 April 2014

92% Cabernets, 6% Merlot (normally more like 25%), 2% Petit Verdot. Rich, scented perfume on the nose, medium body and pretty intense tannins, very compact and restricting on the palate. Deserves some maturation, but doesn’t have the body and concentration to go very long term. (17+)

Score: 17 Jancis Robinson MW, Richard Hemming, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2020-2025 Date: 01 April 2014