2021 Chateau Phelan Segur 1,5 l - Magnum - Cru Bourgeois St. Estephe

Decanter.com - 94 pts - GH: *One of the absolute standouts for me this year. (...) I love the intensity, it's rich but perfectly executed - elegant and finessed with balance and charm but above all, a sense of energy and freshness that makes it one of the more memorable wines. (...) A gorgeous wine that has such promise. A surefire must buy and what should be great value too.* - 04/2022

Falstaff Magazin – 90 pts – PM: * Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Zart floral unterlegte Nuancen von Cassis und Brombeeren, zarte Edelholzwürze, frische Orangenzesten. Saftig, rotbeerig und frisch, gut integrierte, präsente Tannine, mineralisch im Abgang, frisch, mit einigem Potenzial ausgestattet.* - 05/2022

The Wine Advocate – (92-93+) pts – WK: *Unfurling in the glass with aromas of dark berries, plums and cherries mingled with notions of rose petals, pipe tobacco, sweet spices and loamy soil, the 2021 Phélan Ségur is medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with impressive depth at the core, ripe tannins and lively acids, concluding with a long, saline finish. Concentrated and well-constructed, this is a serious wine with a bright future ahead of it. It's a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. Tasted five times, twice at the estate.*

Vinum Magazin – 18/20 pts: *Viel versprechende, dezente Aromatik von Beeren und Eiche; glasklarer Auftakt, gleichsam mineralische, ungemein dichte, sehnige Entwicklung über Klassetannin, ewige Länge; unendlich stilvoll, die ganz grosse Klasse.*

WeinWisser – 93 pts: *Verführerisches Bouquet, frisch gepflückte Schattenmorelle, Johannisbeergelée, getrockneter Rosmarin und zartes Veilchenparfüm. Am delikaten Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, herrlicher Extraktfülle, perfekt stützender Rasse, engmaschigem Tanningerüst in einem durchtrainierten Körper mit feingliedrigen „St.-Estèphe-Krallen“. IM konzentrierten Finale mit edler Cassiswürze, Szechuan-Pfeffer und fein sandiger Adstringenz. Hier ist alles am richtigen Platz. Viermal verkostet, immer auf dem gleichen Niveau. Ein zeitloser Klassiker!*

JancisRobinson.com – 16,5+/20pts – JR: *Cask sample. Deep purple. Deep flavours on the nose – intense! Drier, perhaps more ‘serious’ than de Pez. Fully ripe flavours but still quite youthful with marked tannins on the end. Real drive here as well as length. And a dry, almost drying, finish. Not flattering but true to the appellation.* - 04/2022

JamesSuckling.com – (93-94) pts: *Plenty of cabernet character with currant and blackberry and some fresh-herb undertones. Medium body. Fine, firm tannins. Refined and together. Oyster shell and hints of spices such as cloves and white pepper. Tapenade. Typical for the appellation.*

Vinous.com – (92-94) pts – AG: *The 2021 Phélan Ségur is bright, punchy and full of character, with all the youthful vigor and fruitiness of a barrel sample. I very much like the energy here. There's less density than in the preceding years, but that is not a bad thing at all. Cedar, tobacco, sage and bright red berry fruit open nicely, all woven together by the aromatic intensity that is such a signature of the year. This is the second vintage that incorporates a touch of Petit Verdot, while the Cabernet is the highest it has ever been here. Readers will find a classy Phélan marked by a sense of strict classicism that is hugely attractive. Tasted four times.* - 04/2022

Vinous.com – (92-94) pts – NM: *The 2021 Phélan Ségur has an attractive bouquet of blackberry, raspberry and dried rose petal scents, quite fragrant and appealing even at this early stage. The palate is mediumbodied with sappy red fruit, fine tannins, well-judged acidity and quite a tensile finish. This is very promising, though it will need four to five years in bottle. It might represent one of the best values for money… depending on the release price, of course.* - 04/2022

Thewinecellarinsider.com – (92-94) pts – JL: *Smoke, dark chocolate, flowers and espresso tinged black cherry notes are in the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, forward, soft, round and fruity, with cocoa overtones to accompany the black cherry and espresso oriented finish. This should be quite enjoyable on release. The wine blends 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot. This interesting blend represents the highest percentage of Cabernet ever placed into Phelan Segur. They have been a non-stop roll here and the 2021 continues that streak! Drink from 2023-2037.* - 05/2022