2020 Chateau Calon-Segur Saint-Estephe

They say, “home is where the heart is”.  That’s how the Marquis de Ségur felt about Calon Ségur. He was considered one of the greatest winemakers in all of Europe in the 18th century. At that time, he was making wine at numerous Chateau including the Lafite and Latour.  He lived at Calon, and is now remembered for making the statement:

“I make wine at Lafite and Latour, but my heart is at Calon”

These words have forever marked the history of the property.  In the following century, the heart was engraved in the stonework of the château.  And, later the heart made its way onto the wine label.

Château Calon de Segur is a legend. Since 1855, it has been recognized as one of the fourteen third great growths in Bordeaux. Calon-Segur is located in the northern part of Saint-Estephe, very close to the Gironde river and about five miles due north of Ch. Lafite Rothschild. The first records of Château Calon Segur date back to Gallo-Roman times. In fact, it is believed that this was one of the oldest Châteaux in all of Saint-Estèphe. After many years and a variety of owners, it finally became the property of the Marques de Segur, who also owned Château Lafite, Latour, and Mouton. The estate's logo comes from the famous phrase of the Marquess: "I make my wine at Lafite and Latour, but my heart is in Calon."

In 1894, Georges Gasqueton and his uncle Charles Hanappier bought the estate. They ran the property until 2012 and were responsible for some of the most legendary vintages to date: 1920, 1940, and 1950.

Madame Denise Gasqueton, along with her daughter Hélène, became the owner and leader after the death of her husband Philippe Gasqueton. They were the first to bring modernity to the estate and they renovated the winery and the vineyards.

In 2012 the property was acquired by the French insurance company Suravenir. Since this change of owners, the property begun a serious modernization process, especially in the wine and barrel cellar. Recently, in September 2020, the owners of Château Calon Segur (Suravenir Group) acquired Chateau Vray Croix de Gay, Pomerol, Chateau Siaurac, in the Lalande de Pomerol appellation and Chateau Le Prieure in St. Emilion from the owners of Latour.

Calon de Segur is a 136-acre estate with typical Bordeaux varieties planted: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, the vines are 25 years old on average, but they have some old vines between 45 and 60 years old. The terroir of Calon Ségur is unique in the Médoc. The soil is made up of a mixture of gravel, rocks, clay, sand, and limestone soils on the surface. Thanks to the combination of gravel and clay, the wines reflect a fine and elegant character with great power.

The wine consultant at Calon de Segur is rockstar Éric Boissenot. Eric consults at 40 of the 1855 Classified estates including Lafite, Margaux, Latour, Mouton Rothschild, Leoville Las Cases, and Ducru Beaucaillou.

2020 was a great year for Bordeaux. Vinous Media blessed this year with a 97-point review and said, "Two thousand-twenty is an exceptional vintage for Bordeaux, certainly the best in the 2018-2020 trilogy. Quality is very, very high."

Aging: 20 months in French oak barrels. 

78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot. 

See Critical Reviews for detailed tasting notes.

 The 2020 Chateau Calon Segur is pure gold and another masterpiece from this estate. Harvested all in September and pulled from their 48 hectares of vines, the blend is 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Franc, and the rest Petit Verdot that spent 20 months all in new French oak, and it hit 13.2% natural alcohol. My notes started and ended with "wow," and this riveting Saint-Estephe offers a heavenly bouquet of red and black currants, truffly earth, iron, espresso, and tobacco leaf. With incredible purity of fruit, full-bodied richness, and ultra-fine tannins, it's a deep, pure, layered 2020 that deserves at least 7-8 years of bottle age and will cruise for 40-50 years in cold cellars. Hats off to the team at Calon Segur.  ~99 Jeb Dunnuck

A return to form in my eyes for Calon Ségur after the atypical 2018, rippling with elegance, balance and savoury blue fruits of Cabernet, with rose and peony flowers. Concentrated, chiselled and juicy, this has clear personality and equals the great, classically balanced vintages of Calon like 2016. A yield of 33hl/ha, 3.85pH, 100% new oak. Vincent Millet is now overall director as well as technical director, since the departure of Laurent Dufau in 2020. ~98 Decanter

The 2020 Calon-Ségur is a brilliant wine from an estate in the ascendant. Wafting from the glass with aromas of cassis, red berries, fresh mint, pencil shavings, violets and rose petals, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a vibrant core of fruit, powdery structuring tannins and a long, perfumed finish. Integrated and harmonious, this pure, concentrated and dynamic wine is one of the finest vintages that Vincent Millet and his team have produced to date. ~97 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 

This wine has a touch of spice to go with its powerful black currant flavors. It is concentrated, and the 78% Cabernet Sauvignon gives great structure and power. The wine has immense aging potential.~97 Wine Enthusiast

Blueberries, blackberries, spearmint, currants and sweet spices on the nose. Mocha and walnuts, too. Lots of flavor here, with a medium to full body and muscular yet velvety tannins that melt seamlessly into the wine. Long, polished and delicious already. Keeps going. Better from 2025. ~96 James Suckling

Showing a slightly burly mix of chestnut, warm paving stone, bay leaf and burnished leather notes amid a densely packed core of black currant and bitter plum reduction. Really riveted, with a warm cast iron spine and a mouthwatering savory edge driving the finish. Lovely character in this wine. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. ~95 Wine Spectator

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