Château Phélan Ségur 2015

Undoubtedly the most well-rounded and distinguished Phélan in the wine’s contemporary history. With an elegant and refined tannic structure and a sleek, straight finish, the wine is brilliant and full of personality.

Owned by the Gardinier brothers (who also run Les Crayères in Reims and the Taillevent restaurants in Paris), Phélan was sold in 2018 to Philippe Van de Vyvere, a great enthusiast of Bordeaux wines. This wine, which is in a sense the first cousin of Calon-Ségur, is one of the most renowned in the region. Beautifully situated on the banks of the Garonne, it offers a very distinctive character, marked by notes of cedar and a smooth mid-palate. The 2015 vintage was one of the appellation’s greatest successes, while the 2016 and 2018 vintages display refined tannins worthy of the finest classified growths.

Located on the plateau next to the village of Saint-Estèphe, this estate combines an impressive complex of neoclassical buildings with a first-rate terroir: 70 hectares of clay-gravel soil. It also boasts renowned owners. Bernard Phélan, who already owned Domaine de Garamey, purchased land in 1810 from Joseph-Marie de Ségur, Count of Cabanac (who was merely a namesake of the Ségurs of Lafite and Calon). Then, for a long time, the Delons—a leading name in the Médoc—took over, followed by Xavier Gardinier starting in 1985, and finally Philippe Van de Vyvere since 2018.

This 2015 vintage is both charming and deeply complex. It serves as the culmination of a series of highly successful vintages and will stand out as the greatest modern Phélan. Precise and exceptionally flavorful.

This stunning, iconic property in Saint-Estèphe, with its superb terroir on the banks of the Gironde, has had a new owner since January 2018. Belgian industrialist Philippe Van de Vyvere now has the task of writing the next chapter in the history of what is indisputably one of the Médoc’s finest unclassified wines. He has everything he needs to succeed and is expected to continue along the path the estate has been following for several years now. Phélan Ségur produces a noble wine—not always flamboyant, but refined and with excellent aging potential.

This spicy wine demonstrates just how far the estate has moved away from its overuse of new oak. In this bottling, the oak is subtle and does not mask the rich fruit and juicy acidity. It still has the structure of a Saint-Estèphe while maintaining a good overall balance. Best enjoyed starting in 2024.

A wine with a firm structure, featuring aromas of red berries, blackcurrant, and leafy notes that lead to a powerful core on the palate, framed by fine, long, and fresh tannins. This wine has great aging potential. Try it starting in 2025.