Château Calon Ségur, Le Marquis de Calon Ségur, St. Estephe, Bordeaux, France, 2017

About the Winemaker
Every morning, when the vines are arousing from their slumber, the “inhabitants” of Calon take possession of the place, and the estate turns into a village. Fifty or so people work here: vineyard workers, tractor drivers, an administrative team, the cellar crew, agricultural engineers, hospitality men and women. People from Saint-Estèphe of course, but also Médocains, Bordelais, as well as one or two talents that have come from abroad to take part in the Calon Ségur project. 

Overview of the Wine
The community of Saint-Estèphe has it roots in the Gallo-Roman origins of this chateau. Chateau Calon-Ségur was the first wine estate in the commune and is classified as a Troisième Cru Classé. The wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It is matured in wood for 18 months, with 50 percent new oak.

Grape / Blend
57% merlot, 38% cabernet sauvignon and 5% cabernet franc

Origin
St. Estephe, Bordeaux, France

Winemaker's Tasting Notes
Le Marquis de Calon Ségur is totally distinct from the First Wine. “It benefits from a true expression of its own”, underlines Vincent Millet. “The plots are separated out from the beginning.” Le Marquis de Calon Ségur provides immediate enjoyment, warmth and a velvety texture. It is carefully aged generally for 17 months in oak barrels, a third of which are new. Deliciously easy-drinking, silky and expressive, its charm comes to the fore, while at the same time bringing to our minds the elegance of the Grand Vin.

92 Points - James Suckling
Terra cotta, red-berry pastry and a wild-herb thread, too. The palate has firm, wrapped tannin, cradling ripe cassis and blueberry flavors. Round, juicy tannins. Some vanilla now. A blend of 57% merlot, 38% cabernet sauvignon and 5% cabernet franc. Second wine of Château Calon-Ségur. Drink or hold.

92 Points - Wine Enthusiast
The second wine of Calon Ségur, this has many of the same tannins and firmness of the the senior wine while showing layers of Merlot that gives a ripe, opulent edge. Acidity and freshness are there, revealing themselves through the tannins.

90 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
This estate has been firing on all cylinders, and they’ve produced two outstanding wines in 2017. The 2017 Marquis de Calon is the second wine and is 57% Merlot, 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Cabernet Franc that was brought up in 30% new barrels and hit 13.2% natural alcohol. This medium-bodied, elegant Saint-Estephe has plenty of Merlot flesh and charm as well as terrific cassis fruit and notes of cedary herbs and flowers. It’s already impossible to resist, yet I suspect it will evolve for 10-15 years in cool cellars.

90 Points - Decanter
This has a floral edge to it and a depth of blueberry fruit that's a little shy at first but comes through on the mid-palate. I like how this fits together, with carefully placed fruits and soft tannins. This isn't an especially powerful Marquis and should be ready to drink within 3 to 4 years, lasting for at least fifteen. There was no frost at Calon, just the dry summer interrupted by 40-50mm of rain at the end of June and then 80mm in September to contend with. This was around the same amount as in 2015, but in September 2015 it fell over two days, whereas this year the rain lasted around 10, which was fine for the Cabernets but a little trickier for the Merlots. 50% of production went to Marquis de Calon, and 10% to the third wine, St-Estèphe de Calon, not tasted here. 30% new oak. Yield of 43.5hl/ha. 3.6pH.

90 Points - Wine Spectator
Lively, with damson plum and red currant fruit, gilded with floral notes and backed by a bright iron streak on the finish. Very pure and fresh. Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc.

90 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Aged 17 months in 30% new French oak, the 2016 Le Marquis de Calon-Ségur has a deep garnet-purple color and gives up gregarious scents of chocolate-covered cherries, black raspberries and cassis with hints of violets and cinnamon stick plus an underbrush hint. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm and grainy with a good core of layered black fruits and a perfumed finish.

Product size: 750ml