Château Phélan Ségur - Saint-Estèphe 2018

Powerful and elegant, with a style more reminiscent of Saint-Julien than Saint-Estèphe, featuring fine tannins and a remarkable balance of harmonious intensity; it will equal or surpass the great vintages of the past.

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.

Bright, succulent, and juicy fruit. Blackberry, plum, chocolate, and sage, with a brilliant structure and robust tannins. Yield of 48 hl/ha. 2024–2042

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 soils. 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—followed by Xavier Gardinier starting in 1985, and finally Philippe Van de Vyvere since 2018.

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 best unclassified wines in the Médoc. 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 showy, but refined and with excellent aging potential.

The 2018 Phélan Ségur is just as impressive in the bottle as it was en primeur. Deep and beautifully layered, with exceptional finesse and great character, the 2018 truly delivers. Aromas of blue and black fruits, gravel, spices, menthol, licorice, and dried herbs unfold as the 2018 vintage reveals its character. The 2018 vintage is abundantly rich, yet its structure is also well-defined. The 2018 is simply exquisite. 2026–2043

Aromas of blackcurrant, spices, and flowers give way to a medium-bodied palate with fine tannins and a delicious, savory finish. It’s so enjoyable to drink now, but it will improve with age. Very refined and well-balanced. Try it after 2022.

Undoubtedly one of the appellation’s greatest successes. It has it all. Moreover, spared from all the vagaries of the vintage, it yields 49 hl/ha—a very impressive result. It features a deep color, a generous and complex bouquet that gently unfolds with ripe notes of Burlat cherry and graphite, dense and fresh sensations, rich tannins with a silky texture, savory richness, and minerality. Exceptional.

Tasted for the third time in just a few weeks, this wine seems to be emerging as one of Phélan Ségur’s greatest successes of the past 30 years (along with the 2005, 2014, and 2016 vintages)! It beautifully expresses its terroir, finesse, and power. Dense, full-bodied, and elegant on the palate, where it is perfectly supported by its acidity and precise, powerful tannins. A lovely, fruity finish. 2026–2053

The flagship of the lineup, the 2018 Château Phélan Ségur, is a stunning wine composed of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon and 43% Merlot. It was a great vintage for the Médoc, and the 2018 displays a dense purple hue accompanied by powerful notes of blackcurrant, iron, smoked tobacco, chocolate, and earth. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, it showcases beautiful tannins, remarkable fruit purity, and everything you could ask for. It currently offers some immediate appeal (likely due to its high Merlot content), but it fills out in the glass over time and reveals increasing structure with aeration. It deserves to age in the bottle for 5 to 6 years and will keep for 20 to 25 years. It is just as good as the 2016, if not better.