Frank Phélan Saint-Estèphe 2020 - Second vin

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

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.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

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 many years, 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.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

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

About the estate:

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 shaping the future 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.

James Suckling

About the wine:

Plenty of spice and blackcurrant, with notes of graphite and dark bark. Full-bodied and well-structured, with slightly velvety tannins and a firm, velvety texture. It displays good length and intensity. Phélan-Segur’s second wine. Allow it to age in the bottle for at least 3 to 4 years.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

Château Phélan Ségur’s second wine is Frank Phelan 2020, a 60/40 blend of Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon that was harvested between mid-September and October 1. Fresh, lively, medium-bodied, and straightforward, it offers lovely notes of red fruit, flowers, and spices, supple and well-integrated tannins, remarkable balance, and exceptional length. This lovely, elegant Saint-Estèphe—already delicious—will be perfect to enjoy at any time over the next 10 to 15 years. Like the Grand Vin, it shines with its balance and class. 2023–2038

Yves Beck

About the wine:

The 2020 Frank Phélan is inviting right from the start, with obvious charm but also character. Its spicy notes and fruity nuances are in perfect harmony, both on the nose and on the palate. The wine is elegant, creamy, delicious, harmonious, and already very approachable. The winemakers have successfully balanced the richness with a refreshing quality. A sumptuous Frank Phélan to be savored in its youth, but without rushing. Now – 2030