2021 Chateau Calon Segur - 3eme Cru St. Estephe

Decanter.com – 95 pts – GH: *A fine Calon Ségur this year with 92% Cabernet, the highest in the blend since the 2009 vintage. This is rich and dark with a spiced nose full of black chocolate and black pepper edged by soft floral notes. Graceful and refined on the palate bursting with freshness and such integrated tannins. Smooth but on the mineral edge so you get that hint of austerity/salinity together with the acidity giving this some sharpness and high definition. It's got concentration and depth but at the moment it's so linear and detailed in its precision that it's coming across very straight and taut. Tannins have some grip and this has a nice weight on the mid-palate leading into a long finish. I adore the sweet salty tang at the end. I'm looking forward to tasting this in bottle. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 3.65pH. No chaptalisation. A yield of 36hl/ha. 20 months ageing, 100% new oak barrels.* - 04/2022

Falstaff Magazin – 93 pts – PM: *Dunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Ockerrandaufhellung. Feinwürzig, dunkle Beerenfrucht, tabakige Nuancen, schwarze Kirschen, zarte Edelholznote. Straff, rotbeerig, rote Herzkirschen, feine Fruchtsüße, gut integrierte Tannine, lebendiger Säurebogen, zitronig-mineralisch, dezenter Nougattouch im Abgang.* - 05/2022

Vinum Magazin – 17,5/20 pts: *Sehr zurückhaltend, aber komplex, blumig-würzig; geschmeidiger, runder Ansatz, samtene Entwicklung, herrlich frisches, reifes Tannin, grosse, blumig mineralische Länge; erfreulich.*

WeinWisser – 18,5+/20pts – GL, TW: *81 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 11 % Cabernet Franc, 7 % Merlot, 1 % Petit Verdot, 12.9 Vol.-%, 36 hl/ha, pH 3.65, 20 Monate in 100% neuen Barriques. Subtiles Bouquet, frisch gepflückte schwarze Johannisbeere, zarte Fliedernote und Holundergelee, dahinter heller Tabak, tiefschürfende Terroirwürze und Estragon. Am komplexen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, reifem Extrakt, engmaschigem Tanningerüst, magischer Rasse, edler Salznote und geradlinigem Körper. Im gebündelten Finale wetzt der St. Estèphe (kurz) seine Krallen, Wildkirsche, Schlehengelee und dunkle Mineralik, der Wein ruht in sich und benötigt Zeit. Grandiose Leistung – back to Classic!* – 04/2022

JancisRobinson.com – 17+/20pts – JL: *81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot. Cask sample. Fine, floral bouquet. Density on attack, the oak a touch present but plentiful tannins that are smooth and honed. Plenty of matière and freshness from beginning to end. Clearly has potential..* - 04/2022

Vinous.com – (94-96) pts – AG: *The 2021 Calon Ségur is a gorgeous wine that is going to need a number of years to fully come into its own. Aromatic, punchy and /croquant/, as the French say, the 2021 is a vibrant, mid-weight Calon that will delight readers who enjoy classically built claret. Don't look for the size or opulence of recent vintages. The 2021 is a cool, classy Saint-Estèphe to savor for years and decades to come. I loved it.* - 04/2022

Vinous.com – (95-97) pts – NM: *The 2021 Calon Ségur was cropped at 36hL/ha and aged entirely in new oak for a planned 20 months. This year, the gap between the Grand Vin and the Marquis is blatantly obvious, to the extent that they are practically different wines, which is how Vincent Millet and his team treat them. The Cabernet is firmly in the driving seat here, with detailed, graphite-infused black fruit and a background florality that comes through with aeration. The medium-bodied palate displays very fine tannins, superb acidity (pH 3.65) and impressive harmony. This has exemplary build in the mouth, fine weight on the finish and a persistent aftertaste. An outstanding Calon-Ségur, elevated by the risks taken in de-leafing in June and waiting to pick. Bravo. 12.9% alcohol.* - 04/2022

Thewinecellarinsider.com – (94-96) pts – JL: *Dark garnet in color, tobacco leaf, spicy currants, dried flowers, and blackberries are found on the nose. Medium-bodied, fresh, vibrant and lifted, the fruit is on the elegant, classic side with good sweetness and should be relatively precocious. The finish delivers a nice, spicy, minty, uplifted endnote. The wine was produced from 81% Cabernet Sauvignon, 11% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot and 1% Petit Verdot, 12.9% ABV, 3.65 pH. The harvest took place September 28, finishing October 13. Drink from 2025-2047.* - 05/2022