Château Calon Ségur St-Estèphe 2020 - 3ème Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

The restoration of the château, completed this spring, beautifully complements the renovation of the wine cellar and the revitalization of the vineyard, restoring the estate to the grandeur befitting the town’s stately estate, majestically enclosed within its walls. A highly skilled team is making the most of this exceptional terroir, now producing wines on par with those of a Premier Grand Cru Classé. The estate belonged to the Capbern-Gasqueton family for over a century; since 2012, it has been owned by the insurance company Suravenir. Even more so than the second wine, Marquis-de-Calon, the Capbern estate—produced from the vines outside the walls of the enclosed vineyard—offers a Saint-Estèphe with exceptional value for money.

Decanter

About the wine:

The nose is very deep and fragrant; the 1% Petit Verdot is quite powerful and intense, with aromas of ripe fruit. On the palate, however, it is very smooth and silky—so juicy and charming, with excellent balance. A beautiful energy and great freshness emanate from this wine, which is both lively and well-defined—succulent, yet remains intense and linear in terms of structure. The body comes from ripe, plump fruit—blackcurrant, black cherry, and plum—counterbalanced by a refreshing minerality and notes of wet stone and pencil lead. The richness is undeniable, the concentration is there, but there is also a touch of magic on the finish, so well executed and so long. Truly very impressive. 2029–2048

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

A noble estate bearing the name of the parish of Saint-Estèphe in the Middle Ages (Calones), this vineyard is one of the oldest in the region. Between 1659 and 1681, it passed into the hands of the Ségur family, who developed this vineyard to which they were deeply attached: “I make wine at Lafite and Latour, but my heart is at Calon,” said Nicolas-Alexandre. Backed by the village of Saint-Estèphe, the vineyard—a single, contiguous plot entirely enclosed by a wall—covers 55 hectares, the same area as at the time of the 1855 classification, planted on a thick layer of gravel resting on clay. Owned by the Gasqueton family from 1894 to 2012, Calon is now owned by Suravenir, a subsidiary of the Crédit Mutuel group, which has undertaken a major renovation program, including the construction of a new fermentation cellar.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

The 2020 vintage is truly a top-tier Calon, one of the utmost distinction, with a full-bodied, rich texture that is, above all, vibrant and lingering, featuring a long, well-defined finish. It has it all... it’s hard to resist.

About the estate:

Acquired in 2012 by the Suravenir insurance group following the death of Denise Gasqueton, Calon-Ségur now has its sights set high and is pulling out all the stops to achieve its goals. The estate, blessed with exceptional terroir, has demonstrated in the past its ability to produce wines that rank among the greatest Médocs. Very tight, firm, and slow to develop, at their best they possess an extraordinary density and elegance, which we are beginning to see again in the latest vintages. Vincent Millet, who came from Château Margaux, has been the technical director since 2006. His mission: to elevate the estate’s quality by adopting a blending approach that places much greater emphasis on Cabernet Sauvignon. Given the truly outstanding recent vintages, Calon-Ségur has now established itself as one of the most compelling labels in the Médoc. Consequently, demand continues to rise.

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

This wine has a hint of spice that complements its powerful blackcurrant aromas. It is concentrated, and the 78% Cabernet Sauvignon gives it plenty of structure and power. It has immense aging potential. Best enjoyed starting in 2028.

James Suckling

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

A nose bursting with iris and violet, delighting the senses with a delightful boldness. On the palate, a dark, enveloping presence, yet with plenty of minerality and elegant saline notes. Here, the Calon Ségur signature is perfectly recognizable—resolutely chiseled, with the virginal nobility of a marble statue. 2028–2053

Yves Beck

About the wine:

When we think back to the first day of school after summer break, we automatically picture chatting with our classmates. We talk about our vacations; everyone eagerly and excitedly shares everything they’ve been up to. And then there’s this young man who walks in, calm and smiling, takes his seat, and gets right to the point. His name is Calon Ségur. He has plenty to share, and there’s so much that he prefers to start by sitting down—which I also recommend you do when you taste him! This wine presents itself with precision and a rare serenity. Its bouquet is subtle and complex, with nuances of tea leaves, licorice, and blueberries. As for its tannins—relevant and perfectly integrated—they underscore its exceptional aging potential. It’s a marathon runner, a muscular, enduring athlete, with obvious density and depth, but above all precision and a very linear character. It just needs time to express itself. It stands up, walks to the blackboard, and begins to write an equation. If I’ve calculated correctly, the solution is just a few decimal places away from 100. It will get there. In the meantime, it goes back to sit… in the cellar! 2028–2050

The Wine Cellar Insider - Jeff Leve

About the wine:

Powerful, rich, deep, and long-lasting, with layers of black and red fruit, Asian spices, boysenberry, blackcurrant, cedar, licorice, cocoa, tobacco leaf, pencil lead, and a refreshing hint of mint on the nose. The wine offers intensity, depth of flavor, power, ripe tannins, liveliness, blackberry, and a lingering finish of redcurrant with hints of spice, chocolate, and crème de cassis on the finish. Give it a few years in the cellar and then enjoy it for about thirty years. Best enjoyed between 2026 and 2055.