Le Marquis de Calon Ségur 2018 – A plush and seductive Saint-Estèphe that combines opulence with finesse. Bursting with ripe plum, cassis, and blackberry notes layered with exotic spice, sandalwood, and a touch of mint, it delivers a full-bodied, velvety mouthfeel framed by fine tannins. Polished, rich, and expressive, this second wine of Calon Ségur showcases the warmth and generosity of the vintage while maintaining the château’s signature elegance.

The Wine Advocate | RP 92-94
Published: Apr 23, 2019

The 2018 Le Marquis de Calon-Ségur is a blend of 53% Merlot and 47% Cabernet Sauvignon (14.9% alcohol). It is anticipated to age for 17 months in barriques, 30% new. Deep purple-black in color, it gives up opulent scents of Indian spices, menthol and plum preserves with a core of crème de cassis, baked cherries and raspberry pie plus a hint of sandalwood. Big, rich, full-bodied and voluptuously fruited in the mouth, it has bags of black fruit preserves and exotic spices with a firm, plush frame, finishing long with a minty lift. Definitely one for the hedonists!

“2018 was complicated to vinify because of the potentially high alcohols,” Laurent Dufau, Managing Director of Calon-Ségur and Capbern informed me. “Also, you had to be very gentle with extraction. You had to be soft, so as not to extract too much. The alcohol percentage of the Merlot was concerning—some came in at 16% potential alcohol! And the Cabernet Franc this year was amazing on this terroir.” Merlot was picked from September 19 to 25. The Cabernets came in September 26 to October 5. Petit Verdot came in on October 8th. Yields were pretty good here on average in 2018: 41 hectoliters per hectare.

This year marks the final stages/completion of years of vineyard restructuring, new aging cellars and a gravity-fed vat room at Château Calon-Ségur. Most notably, they have been increasing vine density and slowly working on bringing more Cabernet Sauvignon rather than Merlot on line, as was the blend traditionally. No doubt about it, quality at Calon-Ségur has been on an upward trajectory in recent years!

James Suckling | JS 93
Published: Jan 31, 2021
Plenty of blackcurrant and blackberry aromas with hints of black truffle and mushroom. It’s medium-bodied with an attractive core of cool fruit and a flavorful finish. Wet-earth undertone. Second wine of Calon Segur. Drink after 2025.

Decanter | D 91
Published: Nov 10, 2020
Drink: 2025-2038

Cinnamon, cloves and touches of reduction. The plump and powerful fruits of St-Estèphe are clear, along with some pretty knitted-down tannins.

Calon-segur.fr

The estate's Second Wine offers a different interpretation of the Calon terroir. With an average of 75% Merlot in the blends, Le Marquis de Calon Segur 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 Segur 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.

APPELLATION
Saint-Estephe.
Chateau Calon Segur's second label.

SOIL 
A thick layer of gravel laid down during the Quaternary Period. Predominantly clay sub-soil from the Tertiary Period. At the summit of the gravel deposits, there is also a fine layer of clay of lacustrine origin.

VINEYARD AREA
55 ha (136 acres).

AREA IN PRODUCTION
45 ha (50 ha planted).

GRAPE VARIETIES
56% Cabernet sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 7% Cabernet franc, 2% petit Verdot

AVERAGE AGE OF THE VINES
22 years.

TRAINING METHOD
Double Guyot.

PLANTING DENSITY
8,000 vines/ha.

TARGET YIELD
45 hl/ha.

HARVEST
Hand picking. A first selection of grapes on the vine. Mechanical sorting of the grapes by vibration, followed by hand sorting.

VINIFICATION
Temperature-controlled conical stainless-steel tanks. Maceration for 18 to 21 days.

AGEING
17 months, 30% new barrels. Fining with egg white.

AVERAGE ANNUAL PRODUCTION
Around 120,000 bottles.