Château Calon-Ségur Saint-Estèphe AOP, 3ème Cru Classé

Nur fünf der 60 Grand Crus im Médoc zählen zur Appellation Saint-Estèphe - das als 3ème klassifizierte Château Calon-Ségur sticht dort seit Jahren deutlich hervor. Gutsleiter Vincent Millet, ein promovierter Mikrobiologe, gilt als Meister der präzisen Weinbaukunst. Seine Cuvée aus annähernd gleichen Teilen von Cabernet Sauvignon und Merlot ist ein harmonisch-elegantes Glanzstück der Weinwelt Bordeauxs. PRESSE 96-97 Punkte James Suckling Blackcurrant, blueberry, cedar, pine needle and black truffle here. I don't think much about the nose with barrel samples, but this is splendid. It's medium-bodied with very fresh acidity and fine, linear tannins that are long and lively. Energy here. Refined. Salty character at the last minute. I may like this better than 2022. A blend of 72% cabernet sauvignon, 15% merlot, 12% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot. 94-96 Punkte Robert Parker's Wine Advocate (William Kelley) The 2023 Calon-Ségur is another en primeur success for this resurgent Saint-Estèphe third growth. Wafting from the glass with aromas of cassis, pencil shavings, wild berries and plums, it's medium to full-bodied, cool and layered, with a deep and integrated core, terrific concentration, lively acids and refined structuring tannins, concluding with a long, penetrating finish. It's a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot that checks in at 14% alcohol. 96 Punkte Falstaff (Peter Moser) Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Nuancen von reifen Herzkirschen und kandierten Veilchen, Rosenblätter, schwarze Waldbeeren, feine tabakige Noten, etwas Nugat, Saftig, rote Kirschen, finessenreiche Struktur, fast cremige Textur, reife, seidige Tannine, zeigt Länge und Frische, animierende Stilistik mit Reifepotenzial. 92-94 Punkte Vinous (Neal Martin) The 2023 Calon Ségur was picked September 6 to 30 at 45hL/ha. As usual, it is being aged entirely in new oak for a planned 20 months. It has a tight, cohesive bouquet of predominantly black fruit intermixed with wild hedgerow, tobacco and melted tar. The palate is medium-bodied with impressive grip on the entry—quite fresh, with a subtle marine tincture and a touch of Japanese nori in the background. It gently fans out on the finish, but it remains controlled and especially linear for Calon-Ségur, perhaps less swayed by the Merlot (15% of the blend). Classy.