Château Calon-Ségur

Chateau Calon Segur Overview

Chateau Calon Segur is a Third Growth estate located in St. Estephe, the northernmost appellation of the Medoc. The estate is known for its history, particularly for the heart-shaped logo inspired by a quote from the Marquis de Segur. The vineyard is planted to 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot. The property is walled and is divided into three large blocks, each of which has small hills and slopes. The terroir of Calon Segur is a blend of gravel, rocks, clay, sand, and limestone soils on the surface with gravel that can go as deep as 5 meters. The clay is unique to Calon Segur as here you find a mix of blue clay, yellow clay, and dark black clay, which is placed to the east, close to the chapel, with views of the Gironde. The estate produces on average, close to 20,000 cases of wine per year.

Wine Characters and Styles

The style of Calon Segur wine until the new owners took over was masculine, sturdy, tannic, structured, and traditional in its textures with a lean toward a brawny style of St. Estephe wine that often took more than a decade or two, or longer to become civilized. Starting with the 2014 vintage, the wines have taken on a new style. The wines of Calon Segur and Capbern Gasqueton are softer, lusher, riper, more forward, and refined in their approach with a better purity of fruit that in my view, is dramatically better.

Wine-Making Techniques

To produce the wine of Chateau Calon Segur today, vinification takes place in a gleaming new facility that was completed in 2016, after a multi-year, top to bottom renovation. Now, the fermentation takes place in 70 conical-shaped, stainless steel tanks that range in size from 25 hectoliters to 120 hectoliters allowing for very precise, parcel-by-parcel vinification. Previously, the wine was aged in up to 50% new, French oak barrels. Today, the best vintages are now aged in 90% to 100% new, French oak barrels for up to 20 months in an effort to soften the wine while also adding more layers of richness to the texture.

Best Vintages

The best vintages of Calon Segur are: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2010, 2009, 2005, 2003, 2000, 1990, 1982, 1953, 1949, 1947, 1945, 1929 and 1928.

Best Storage and Serving Temperatures

Chateau Calon Segur needs time before it begins to show its true character. Calon Segur needs at least 10-15 years of aging in good vintages until it is ready to be enjoyed. Young vintages can be decanted for 2-4 hours or more. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment. Chateau Calon Segur is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit.

Food Pairing

Chateau Calon Segur is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted, braised, stewed, and grilled dishes. Chateau Calon Segur is also good when served with Asian dishes, hearty seafood, or fish like tuna, mushrooms, pasta, and cheese.

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