michael pandolfo

9.0

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

Alaska Rambling Rose

10

Multilayered and changes once the wine gets some time to breath. So smooth, rich and creamy. Dark fruits and great with a meal. One of my top 10 favorite wines — 9 years ago

Keith Levenberg

8.9

Still plenty of personality to this, but neither the freshest nor cleanest bottle of wine you're likely to come across. Starts out smelling of musty attic and old used books, and it never kicks it entirely, but does pick up enough other elements like cedar and cigar box to keep things interesting. What it doesn't really pick up is any fruit, which is fine for its age, but it's a bit disappointing once you compare it to something like the '75 Beychevelle which is in much better shape now with plenty more stuffing. The tannins have completely melted away so the texture is fine and it goes down easy. Interesting now, but would have been better 5-10 years ago. — 10 years ago

Scorewine

Wine writer http://www.israelwines.co.il

9.0

A fantastic 2002, this lovely wine shows once more that today there aren't really bad years in Bordeaux, this Pontet Canet was well structured rich and tempting. Deep red, tempting rich multi layered nose ripe cherries, black current, coffee, cigar box, and tea leaves, full rich body, dry tannins, full of black fruit, high acidity and a long chewy finish. Was worth the wait, my score 90. Drink to 2022 — 10 years ago

Zac Casey

9.2

Super tight after double decanting... The 2011s need to lay down longer than 09 or 10. Once it softens up this is a crowd pleaser can, big red fruits, tannins are there, but it's a soft presence. Always a fun wine. — 10 years ago

Gregg Congleton

9.4

Sweet cheese and rice! Every once and a while, when playing golf, you have that one shot that makes you come back which makes up for all the other bad shots. This wine is like that - found 2 bottles in the back of some suburban wine store hidden with an orange half price sticker - opens big but then smooths out - barnyard and hay on the nose, smooth pallet, tannins but not too much, dark cherry and a hint of Anise. — 10 years ago

Edmond Bordelon

9.2

Smooth, complex and balanced all at once.
1999 — 11 years ago

with Katherine

Michelle Cummings

9.8

Tyler's new favorite dinner wine! — 11 years ago

with Tyler

Dan Warner

9.1

Once it opened up, I discovered a smooth, complex friend from Spain. — 11 years ago

Hawk Wakawaka

Wine Blogger WakawakaWineReviews

8.9

Once it opened up this was beautiful. Subtle and easy. — 12 years ago

Gen

9.7

Very good for CA! — 13 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

Hanif Perry

9.2

Big and grippy for a Pinot Noir. Great bottle and old vintage still strong. — 10 years ago

Mike D

10

Even amongst great company, a cut above. For once a legend lives up to the hype. — 11 years ago

Nathan Brown

9.0

Very fruit forward with a smooth finish. Detect a lot of brown sugar. After letting it breathe got more of the maple flavor. Light body. Very light tannins. — 11 years ago

Molly Brooks

9.1

Generous savory red fruit, at once meaty.& approachable. Suave, commanding. Gaja understands the #brunello deliciousness factor. — 11 years ago

with Marc, Wendy and 3 others

Conquistadora Wise

9.7

Favorite wine so far. Very refreshing. Bought it because of the name/ label, haven't found one to top it yet. — 12 years ago

John Carlson

9.9

Once again, Orin Swift has created a well balanced full body and amazing! — 13 years ago

Chris Loretta

9.3

Killer zin! — 9 years ago

David Walser

9.2

2013 tasted very nice tonight. Put in freezer to give a little chill and left in too long so got too cold. Once warmed up it was delicious. Wish I had more. — 9 years ago

Knox Knox

9.1

This is definitely a great bottle. High alcohol but once it opens up the bouquet is marvelous; Vanilla, baking spices, fresh berries and cream. All upfront taste... bright fruit, berries, orange notes, red apple skin, medium-high tannins but all upfront clean finish, surprisingly light body. I would recommend this wine and would be an easy seller with a decent price point. — 9 years ago

Narun P

9.0

Funky at first but subsequently blown away. Fresh, leathery, flowery, with some structure. Can tell it was once a great bottling. A bit long over due. — 10 years ago

Mackenzie

9.3

In magnum, only 188 made, 13.5% but I couldn't tell, loved the fruit, the density — 10 years ago

Orlando Anaya

9.0

What a beautiful Barbaresco! I decanted if for about two hours to soften it up. Once I started drinking it, yum! Rich, aromatic (just beautiful on the nose), and just a joy to drink. It had a great balance between tannins, dryness, and dark fruit (berries, plum). For the price at Costco, it's quite a steal. — 10 years ago

Miguel Angel Arroyo/Garcia

9.2

Once it's gets room temp it's really bring out the bouquet and the full flavors, but I should let it sit for another 5 years, will keep great and will age wonderful — 10 years ago

with Ana

Mike Coffey

Independent Wine Consultant & Sommelier

9.1

Once it opens up it runs — 11 years ago

Joseph C Burke

9.4

Deep red w/ brick edge; nose of plums, cassis. Herbs; lovely attack of soft sweet cassis fruit, some plums, cedar notes in the finish. Not as big as it once was it is still gloriously lovely to drink and taste for a full minute after swallowing. Drink now. — 11 years ago

Charles Hudson

8.9

Really enjoyed this once some of the forward alcohol got out of the way. A bit tart on the finish, but nice balance of acidity and earthiness and a touch of fruit. Good intro to Burgundy for my family. — 11 years ago

Joe Gonzalez

9.8

Very smooth! — 12 years ago

Hanna Chort

10

Once in a life time! Hopefully twice! — 13 years ago