LeDomduVin: Chateau Calon Ségur Saint-Estèphe 2016

Chateau Calon Ségur Saint-Estèphe 2016

I first tasted Calon Segur in the early '90s at the restaurant where I worked (Le Relais de Compostelle, Pessac).

I must admit that I was not very fond of Saint-Estephe's wines then. They were always quite rustic, dry, and austere to my palate, with a soil-driven earthy taste, often backed up by astringent tannins.

Two Chateaux always seemed to come on top of this appellation and please my taste buds: Cos d’Estournel and Calon Segur. Calon being less expensive (on the wine list), I had more occasions to taste and serve it.

During my London years (1997-2002), Calon Segur was always mentioned in the wine lists of the various restaurants where I worked, but I did not sell or taste much of it, as my taste for Saint-Estephe’s wines had not changed much. I preferred to open wines from other Bordeaux appellations.

During the first five years of my New York years (2002-2011), I had the chance to come to Bordeaux every year to participate in the “En Primeurs,” visiting chateaux and tasting hundreds of wines for 8 to 10 days straight each time.

It allowed me to reconnect with the wines of Saint-Estephe, which had evolved into much fruitier, smoother, and more integrated wines compared to the 1990s. I rediscovered this appellation with a new perspective and enthusiasm, finding wines I previously “disliked” to be more to my liking.

Due to technical changes and improvements in vineyard and cellar management, Chateaux like Montrose, Phelan-Segur, and Lafon-Rochet, for example, became more fruit-forward, rounder, more approachable, less rustic, and less tannic. The 2000s saw a renewal of interest for Saint-Estephe wines.

The quality of Saint-Estephe wines has never ceased to increase ever since.

Château Calon Ségur 2016

This beautiful wine offers elegant aromas of ripe black fruits and spices with floral, mineral, earthy, and oaky nuances. Medium-bodied yet rich and generous, it is well-structured and fresh, with exceptional aging potential. Loved it.

Cheers! Santé!

Dom

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin @chateaucalonsegur #chateaucalonsegur #calonsegur #saintestephe #bordeaux #redwine #grandcru #vin #wine #vino #wein #tastingnotes #sommelier

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LeDomduVin: Chateau Calon Ségur 2016

Chateau Calon Ségur Saint Estephe 2016

Although too young, the vintage 2016 in Bordeaux is a beauty and drinks delightfully now for those who cannot wait. 

Yet, some are still tight and deserve a few more years (or even decades) to reach their opening window. That was the case for Chateau L'Evangile 2016, which I opened recently (see previous post). It is a superb wine but way too young to be opened now. 

Others are already opened and ready to drink, like Chateau Figeac 2016, which I also opened recently. Wow! What a wine! I loved it! It could be a phase, as it could close again for a few more years. Who knows? Yet, for now, it tasted amazing. 

And some are in-between, like this Chateau Calon Segur 2016. 

Though shy and subdued on the nose, it still timidly revealed red and black berries and ripe plum aromas with earthy and floral notes mingling with coffee, chocolate, and oaky nuances.

The palate is also quite shy, medium to full-bodied. Elegant and well-crafted, it is balanced with ripe fruit, an earthy grainy texture, integrated yet present tannins, and enough acidity to keep it fresh. Overall, it has a very good structure, nicely expanding with dense ripe black fruits, earth, and minerals toward the finish. Nice overall!

I liked it a lot, as it was enjoyable. Yet, it is in a transition period now. Not fully expressing itself and not fully harmonized and integrated either. It is hesitant to reveal its full potential just yet while still giving hints of how "grand" it will be at a later stage in the years to come. 

That said, I found it true that Saint-Estephe wines usually take longer to integrate, loosen their tight tannins and earthy soil-oriented grainy texture, and open compared to their neighboring appellations cousins. 

Give it some time in the cellar; it should reward you plenty once it has reached its opening tasting window. 

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom 

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin @chateaucalonsegur #calonsegur #wine #vin #vino #wein #saintestephe #bordeaux #redwine #lesphotosadom #tastingnotes #sommelier #sommlife #sommelierlife #ilovemyjob

Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin 2023, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, collages, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).

LeDomduVin: Autoportrait

Autoportrait with the last light of a beautiful sunset over Victoria Harbour 

When I look at these pictures (just taken by a colleague at the restaurant where I’m doing the service tonight), I realise that I am getting older. 

50 years old already. Time flies. 😁👍🍷

About to open this bottle of Calon Ségur 2016

Cheers! Santé! 

Dom (aka Ledomduvin aka Dominique Noël) 

@ledomduvin #ledomduvin #wine #vin #vino #wein #autoportrait @chateaucalonsegur #calonsegur #bordeaux #redwine #sommelier #sommelierlife #sommlife #winelife #ilovemyjob 

Unless stated otherwise, all rights reserved ©LeDomduVin 2023, on all the contents above including, but not limited to, photos, pictures, drawings, illustrations, collages, visuals, maps, memes, posts, texts, writings, quotes, notes, tasting notes, descriptions, wine descriptions, definitions, recipes, graphs, tables, and even music and video (when and where applicable).