Château Phélan Ségur - Saint-Estèphe 2025 (Primeurs)

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.

An incredible color in the glass: a vivid purple core rimmed with a brilliant pink glow. An inviting nose: creamy notes of strawberry, freshly cut herbs, and pink roses. Smooth and supple, with excellent structure and round, full-bodied tannins that offer a magnificent, fleshy texture. Tempting yet slightly sweet strawberry aromas make it so fruity and charming. Smooth, sophisticated, refined, yet truly inviting. Powdery tannins with ripe fruit. This is a very confident winemaking effort, showcasing precision and concentration. Refined. Delicious—you’ll want more. Not overly flashy, despite its texture, it retains a fresh quality with a mineral finish. Enchanting. A well-rounded wine. One of the best I’ve tasted from this estate. Yield of 29 hl/ha. pH of 3.73. 80 IPT. 65% of production is top-tier wine. This is the first time the estate has harvested more than 10 ha in a single day; the harvest took place over eight days, from September 10 to 26. 2% Petit Verdot rounds out the blend. 2030–2045

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.

Well-composed, structured, and well-balanced, with a medium- to full-bodied profile and fine, firm tannins. Textured and slightly chalky on the palate. Solid and precise, with a long, intense finish. An elegant, refined, and harmonious wine. It displays depth, structure, and finesse. 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 3% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot.

With 65% Cabernet Sauvignon—at the high end of the estate’s range—this 2025 Phélan promises a refined profile. Pencil lead, tobacco, and blueberry jelly dominate the very inviting nose. On the palate, it stands out with a full-bodied attack, supported by complex tannins that are beautifully integrated into the wine’s texture. The palate unfolds with elegance and length, as the wine’s finely crafted structure lends great structure and persistence to the succulent, mouth-watering body. Hints of mint and graphite add an extra touch of freshness and sophistication to the overall profile. Very cohesive and exceptionally well-rounded.

The depth and attention to detail evident in Phélan Ségur’s bouquet speak volumes about its ambitions and qualities. Everything is perfectly balanced; nothing is left to chance, and nothing is excessive. Inviting notes of black berries and cedar are complemented by a hint of praline and mint, as well as chocolatey and chalky undertones. It is indeed these most subtle nuances that abound and give the bouquet a depth rarely achieved. Smooth and elegant on the attack, the wine gradually gains breadth and depth across the palate. Its tannins initially hold back, observing the situation before revealing themselves and becoming the driving force behind the wine’s evolution. Their serenity and precision speak in their favor, even if one wouldn’t object to more vigor—though this vigor arrives late, and it is precisely here that this wine might surprise more than a few. This power isn’t limited to the tannins; the acidity also contributes by blending harmoniously with the other elements present. A fully realized Phélan Ségur that embodies the dedicated and passionate commitment of a team that truly loves it. It repays them in kind, and that’s only fair. 2030–2055