Jose Matias

10

Probably one of the best wines I ever had the pleasure of drinking. I received it as a wedding gift several years ago. once my wife and I decided to drink it and we were blown away. The color was out of this world a mix of burgundy coupled with caramel hues in the light blessing it with a tint that was reminiscent of vin Santo. Not an expert just my opinion. — 3 years ago

Matt Perlman

9.3

Gorgeous. Tiny strawberries, crunchy leaves, cedar, iron, some animal notes. Sweet spot in mid-transition from primary to secondary. Once again the strategy of blue chip producers in “lesser” vintages pays off — 5 years ago

Todd Doolan

9.7

Long, mint and cinnamon. Once in a while it is nice to feel like you are drinking a great bottle at exactly the right time. — 7 years ago

Byron Hewett

9.4

A mystery wine in the Burgundy tasting. No one guessed it was not Burgundy. Once a hint was given, one of our crew got it right away. — 8 years ago

michael pandolfo

9.1

The biggest wine in the lineup. Sweet blueberry with baking spices. But so big and so much tannin that I felt like my tongue was ripped out. Needs years but there’s a lot here. — 8 years ago

Ron Siegel

9.4

Great future but the 08’s are too young & need a another 5-10 yrs. — 8 years ago

Eduards Vanags

9.0

Drink it, enjoy it! Great by it self, It’s like an Loire, Beaujolais and Bordeaux combined, from the chocolate and blackberries, to great tannic herbs finally with soft, light, delightful and rich fruit dark fruit. A beautiful Mencia, worth a try for anyone for reasonable price, to explore greatness and achievements this producer did with this underdog , yet familiar grape, it just proves it has a future and fame to reach within hands of careful producers and vigneron’s. — 8 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.5

Tasted blind. Dark tawny color, totally opaque. Odd nose that has everyone shrugging what this could be. Notes of black fruit, spice, roses, some tar. I'm in Italy and drag a few others into similar guesses as my 89 Giacosa Falleto Riserva. Lot's of "wows" when it's revealed this is old Pauliac. This performed well through the day, it's in solid shape. The Bordeaux descriptors are easier to figure out once the label was revealed. — 4 years ago

Mike R

9.5

Nice bottle to toast my son and future daughter In law as they are excited to get married in December amidst all the events going in the world - love you son and congrats — 6 years ago

Mark Eastom

9.0

Magnum. Was great. Meaty spice, dark fruits, earth and pepper once it opened a bit. Christmas dinner wine with prime rib. — 7 years ago

GabWine

9.4

Color : Red
Wine estate : Tenuta San Guido
Designation : Bolgheri
Name : Sassicaia
Country : Italy
Vivino : 5/5
Note : Opening of this Magnum 2002 that had not moved from its individual wooden case in special. Always so many emotions to take out such a wine and please the family. Perfect time to open it and we are on a silky red robe blood with shards garnet. The typical nose of Sassicaia with flavors of black fruits, pepper, copper and cigar. Once in the mouth, the aromas explode and the final is long, greedy, structured and elegant. Excellent.
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Ouverture de ce Magnum 2002 qui n’avait pas bougé de sa caisse individuelle en bois. Toujours autant d’émotions à sortir un tel vin et faire plaisir la famille. Moment parfait pour l’ouvrir et nous sommes sur une robe soyeuse rouge sang avec des éclats grenats. Le nez typique du Sassicaia avec des saveurs de fruits noirs, poivre, cuivre et cigar. Une fois en bouche, les arômes explosent et le final est long, gourmand, structuré et élégant. Excellent.
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👍🏻Vivino, FB : GabWine | IG : gabriel_dvl 🥂 — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.3

On the nose, a touch of barnyard. Sweet & sour dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, baked strawberries and hues of blue fruits. Dry crushed rocks, dry stones, rich black turned, soft leather, cedar, underbrush, tobacco, light vanilla & clove, medium spice, limestone, fresh & withering dark red floral bouquet.

The body is just full. The tannins are soft, rounded, chewy & sticky and still have some teeth. The wine elegantly guides smooth over the palate...very little that pushes back. It’s still youthful but not as youthful as my expectation. Sweet & sour dark cherries, blackberries, black raspberries, baked strawberries and hues of blue fruits. Dry crushed rocks, dry stones, rich black turned, soft leather, cedar, underbrush, tobacco, some dry herbal notes, sweet tarry notes, light vanilla & clove, medium spice, powdery limestone, loamy clay & top soil, graphite, dark spice with lifting heat, fresh & withering dark red floral bouquet and haunting violets. The acidity is near perfect. The structure, tension, length are in a very place but, will still improve for another 15+ years. The long, finish is ripe, round, balanced and lasts minutes.

Photos of, the Chateau, Technical Director Vincent Millet, beautiful stainless steel tank room and their new barrel room.

Producer notes & history...historic records show that Calon Segur was in existence as far back as 1147, when it was owned by Monseigneur de Calon. He was an important Bishop in the community. This makes Chateau Calon Segur one of the very oldest properties in Saint Estephe. Eventually, the property came to be owned by Nicolas Alexandre de Segur. Hence where part of the name of the Chateau comes.

After passing through generations, the estate became the property of the famous Marquis de Segur. de Segur is an important figure in Bordeaux history, not only for his ownership of numerous top Bordeaux estates in that day but, he also owned Lafite and Latour. de Segur is credited with uttering the words that spawned the idea behind the heart shaped logo of Calon Segur. The story is that de Segur is quoted as saying: “I make my wine at Lafite and Latour, but my heart is in Calon.” This famous saying lives on the label of Chateau Calon Segur, where the drawing of a heart is prominently featured on the bottle.

Chateau Calon Segur was one of the original three Bordeaux vineyards in Saint Estephe. In 1825 Chateau Montrose was a forest without a single vine belonging to the massive Calon Segur estate. In fact, Chateau Phelan Segur was also once part of the vast Segur estate. The holdings of the Segur family were so large, they included what would later became Chateau Lafite Rothschild, Chateau Latour and Chateau Mouton Rothschild!

The more modern era by European standards began in 1894 when its Left Bank vineyards were purchased by Georges Gasqueton and Charles Hanappier. Hanappier was a large negociant at the time. The Gasqueton family managed the estate until 2012. Madame Gasqueton ran the estate until she passed away at the age of 87 in late September, 2011.

In July of 2012, Chateau Calon Segur was sold for 170 million Euros or 215 million US dollars. The buyer was a French Insurance Company, Suravenir Insurance. Jean-Pierre Moueix, the owner of Petrus and the massive negociant company Duclot also took a minority stake in Chateau Calon Segur.

Since taking over Calon Segur, they started renovating the property with the focus on the wine making facilities. They followed a trend to vinify on a parcel by parcel basis. The estate replaced their older vats with new stainless steel tanks that vary in size and number to match the size of the various vineyard parcels.

The new tanks accompany a completely new vat room as well with everything moving completely by gravity. The new tasting room was remodeled as well. The renovations were completed in 2016.

Their cellars also needed work. Immediately after closing, the new owners began an extensive replanting of the Calon Segur vineyard. There were a number of reasons they chose to do this. They needed to increase the level of vine density and add more Cabernet Sauvignon.

The extensive renovation of Chateau Calon Segur cost somewhere north of 20 Million Euros. Other changes, the new owners took full control and brought in Vincent Millet as the Technical Director.

The 55 hectares of Calon Segur are located just north of the small town of St. Estephe and are planted to 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot.

Chateau Calon Segur is one of the few walled in vineyards in the Left Bank. Calon Segur is also known as being the northern most Classified Growth in Medoc.

The terroir of Calon Segur is a blend of gravel, rocks, clay, sand and limestone soils on the surface with gravel that can be as deep as 5 meters. Underneath, you find marl, clay and limestone.

On average, the vines are 25 years of age. However, they have older vines that range in age from 45-60 years of age.

The vineyard of Chateau Calon Segur remains almost exactly the same as it did at the time of the 1855 Classification.

Since the remodel was completed, fermentation takes place in 70 conical shaped, stainless steel tanks that range in size from 25 hectoliters to 120 hectoliters. Vintages are now aged in 90% to 100% new, French oak barrels for up to 20 months.

Production of Chateau Calon Segur is around 20,000 cases per year. They also make a second wine, which was originally named Marquis de Calon. Now, the second wine is sold under the name of Le Marquis de Calon Segur.

There is also a third wine, which is sold under two names, La Chapelle de Calon, and St. Estephe de Calon Segur, which is produced from vines that mostly come from a specific plot with more limestone. — 8 years ago

Roman Ochocki

9.5

Once a year a bottle of (Ridge) "Geyserville". :) Unfortunately this one is my last from vintage of 2016. — 4 years ago

Bruce Dunbar

8.9

A once beautiful wine, slightly faded at 20 years out. Still loads of ripe red fruit and elegance, but it was all high and mid notes with little bass and just a hint of pruning. Still made for a nice night. — 4 years ago

Stephen Redenbaugh

9.6

Mid-weight on the palate; showed a bit more interest than last bottle. A powerful wine with plenty of fresh baked bread and crisp green apple notes. Long, almost oily finish with a final kick of acidity hints at a long future. — 6 years ago

Abbey Chrystal

9.3

Very delicious once I stopped crying that we’d opened it a decade too soon. Stems and taut astringency, blackberry and pink peppercorns — 8 years ago

with Ken

Chris Rogers

9.5

Just exquisite!! Once you let it breath there is nothing smoother! One of the best cab’s I have ever had! — 8 years ago

michael pandolfo

9.0

Californian Mourvèdre. Merry red cherry with white bread in the finish — 8 years ago

Scott Taddeo

9.1

Still very young. Orange blossom, rubber, key limes, lemon and tarragon. Medium plus acid and not quite as taught as it once was. Great producer sure, but better rieslings our there for the bucks. Like to see if this would go in a blind line up. — 8 years ago

Mike Beltran

9.2

Full and round- still quite a good drink. Very strong after 39 years with many more in future. — 9 years ago