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Calon Segur 2008

St Estephe, Third Growth

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Tasting Notes

I praised the 2008 Calon Segur when I tasted it blind in 2012 and I have no reason to change my opinion three years later. Here it has a surprisingly deep hue for a 2008. The nose is very detailed and lively, more breezy and carefree than the 2009 with vivacious blackberry, cedar and graphite scents. The palate is medium-bodied and slightly brittle in texture on the entry. The acidity is beautifully judged here with superb balance: smooth and harmonious, though it just tapers in towards the edgy, maybe angular finish. This has a sense of joie-de-vivre perhaps not common in Calon-Ségur's wines. It is one of the best Left Bank wines in 2008 and given its price, one of its best values. Tasted March 2015.

Score: 93

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 28 October 2016

Based upon 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, this has a deep garnet core. The nose has a distinct earthiness to it. Blackberry, a touch of pain grille and black pepper. A little rustic but charming. The palate is full-bodied, firm tannins, quite spicy and lively, blackberry, a touch of raspberry coulis and wild strawberry. Firm grip, masculine as always. Fresh with a touch of soy towards the bitter - chunky - finish. Quintessential Calon.

Score: 90 - 92

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 16 April 2009

A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot, this is an outstanding wine made in a classic style. The tannins are high, but the wine possesses abundant notes of cedar, licorice, underbrush, black currants and cherries. Medium-bodied and dense, but structured and backward (as are most vintages of Calon-Segur), give it 7-8 years of cellaring and drink it over the next 20-25.

Score: 90

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2018-2041 03 May 2011

Perhaps that explains the elegant, but rich style of the 2008 Calon Segur, which is dominated more than usual by Cabernet Sauvignon. Cropped at 40 hectoliters per hectare, it is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot. Its sweet perfume of black currants, tobacco leaf, and licorice is followed by a wine with superb purity, good freshness, and a full-bodied style with ripe tannin as well as a long finish. Somewhat reminiscent of the 1996, although this vintage carries a much higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2008 should be relatively approachable given the sweetness of the tannins, and will evolve for 20-25 years. Calon Segur’s harvest took place between October 1-16, not particularly late in the context of this vintage.

Score: 90 - 93

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 30 April 2009

(80% cabernet sauvignon, 18% merlot and 2% petit verdot; a 50% selection for the grand vin; 80% new oak) Deep ruby-red. Captivating aromas of blackcurrant, sweet spices and milk chocolate, nicely lifted by hints of minerals and graphite. Enters the mouth creamy and fruity, with flavors of small berries and plum, then turns somewhat tighter and distinctly minerally on the long, smooth, restrained finish. This is classic claret, a wine admirably combining grace and power, and just one of a string of very fine wines from Calon-Segur in the last ten years. Denise Capbern-Gasqueton is still very active (at 85 years of age) in the day-to-day running of the winery, helped out brilliantly by technical director and winemaker Vincent Millet, who told me that "the long autumn saved us: in 2008 we started picking the cabs on the day we had finished in 2007."

Score: 90 - 93

Ian D'Agata, International Wine Cellar 01 May 2009

Deep crimson. Very different. Spicy sweet nose - very fluid. Quite a contrast to the austere Montrose we have just tasted! Quite rich and supple and fireworks. Round and rather glorious though not at all tarted up. Very fresh. Firm and with great spin though no compromises. Very classic. A very confident vintage for Calon-Ségur.

Score: -

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2018-32 21 April 2009

Very pretty spicy aromas, with currant and blackberry. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins and a delicate velvety texture. Balanced and easy, with a medium finish. 80 percent Cabernet Sauvignon, 18 percent Merlot and 2 percent Petit Verdot. This is much more Cabernet than normal.

Score: 88 - 91

James Suckling, Wine Spectator 01 April 2009