CHÂTEAU CALON SÉGUR

In the running for the wine of the vintage in Saint-Estèphe (if not the whole Medoc), the 2018 Château Calon Ségur is a tentative blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc, and the balance Petit Verdot that will spend 20 months in new French oak. In comparison to the more backward Montrose and more classically styled Cos d’Estournel, this beauty is as sexy and opulent as Saint-Estèphe gets, revealing a saturated purple color, awesome notes of crème de cassis, crushed rocks, spicy oak, and cedar pencil, full body, remarkable purity, and sweet, mouth-coating tannins. Checking in at 14.9% natural alcohol, it’s a big wine, no doubt, yet is perfectly ripe (not overripe or underripe), has terrific purity of fruit and a seamless texture, all making for a singular, thrilling 2018. Rating: 97-100 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com (May 2019)

Darkest cherry colour. Lifted and fragrant, very Cabernet Franc on the nose. Both black and dark-red fruit, almost raspberry, but pencil shavings too. Super-fine tannins, so silky already, so fluent, though there is clearly a density and concentration here in the texture as it builds in the mouth. Lovely dry texture on the finish, dark-fruited but full of life – I would not have thought this had so much new oak as it is swallowed by the fruit. Drinking range: 2028 - 2040 Rating: 18 Julia Harding MW, www.JancisRobinson.com (Apr 2019)

The 2018 Calon-Ségur is blended of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 15% Cabernet Franc and 3% Petit Verdot (14.9% alcohol). It is anticipated to age for 20 months in barriques, 100% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it needs just a little coaxing before it reveals seductive notes of baked cherries, warm cassis, licorice and smoked meats with nuances of hoisin, camphor, Chinese five spice and dried roses with a waft of cardamom. Full-bodied and completely packed with concentrated black fruit and spice layers, it has a firm frame of grainy tannins and a wicked backbone of freshness giving an energetic lift to the very long finish. There's lots of brightness coming from the Cabernet Franc component in here, but it is nonetheless a decadent expression. Rating: 96-98 Lisa Perrotti-Brown, RobertParker.com (Apr 2019)

The quality of the tannins is most notable here; they are present, but totally integrated and folded into the wine. Medium-to full-bodied with lovely savory fruit and a persistent and long finish. Very harmonious and fine. Yet, with air, it takes off with tannin power. Rating: 97-98 James Suckling, www.jamessuckling.com (Apr 2019)

An impressive, concentrated and powerful Calon that will win many admirers without a doubt, but I would be a little hesitant if you're a fan of the more classic balance found in the 2016. It has gorgeous chocolate and rich coffee notes, with complex exotic spices and even salted caramel on the finish, along with a lovely mouthwatering quality helped by a relatively low pH of 3.75 and a good yield of 41hl/ha. This will need long ageing, probably 20 months. I tasted it on several occasions and there are no arguments that it's a stunning wine but I would probably favour the 2016 if looking to cellar something, because it's more in character for what is one of my favourite properties in the appellation. 3% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 100% new oak. Drinking range: 2028 - 2042 Rating: 96 Jane Anson, Decanter (Apr 2019)

A stratospheric, regal wine, Calon Ségur embodies all the best qualities of the vintage. Rich to the point of being exotically ripe, 2018 reminds me of the 2014 in its composition, but with more of everything. On the palate, the 2018 is towering and statuesque, with soaring structure and tremendous overall intensity. Striking aromatic top notes and bright saline underpinnings give the 2018 its energy, tension and nuance. As in 2014, the entirety of the château's Cabernet Franc went into the Grand Vin. Inky, powerful and explosive, Calon Ségur is a headspinning wine. Don't miss it! Rating: 96-99 Antonio Galloni, www.vinous.com (Apr 2019)

The grand vin is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, all from old vines, picked between September 26th and October 5th, with 17% Merlot, picked from September 19th to the 25th, 15% Cabernet Franc picked alongside the Cabernet Sauvignon, and 3% Petit Verdot, picked October 8th. The yield was 41 hl/ha, good for the vintage, while the pH is 3.75. Perhaps the most remarkable piece of technical data here is the alcohol, which comes in at a striking 14.9%, one of the highest (if not the top) on the left bank. This has a tighter and more defined nose than the second wine, the character of the Cabernet coming through, with notes of crushed blackcurrant, damsons and toasted juniper berry, all in a very precise style. This precision and tightly defined substance also come across on the palate, with bright flavours of grilled blackcurrants, damsons and juniper berry with a light touch of currant. It feels balanced and energetic, with a band of tightly grained and rich tannins, and a fresh acid-driven energy. A substantial yet precisely formed wine, with a long and gripped finish. Great potential here. The élevage will be 20 months in 100% new oak barrels. Rating: 96-98 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (Apr 2019)

This velvet-textured wine may be rich and high in alcohol at 15%, but is well balanced by bright fruitiness and fine acidity. The smooth texture hides the tannins which are formidable and will keep the wine aging for many years. Rating: 96 Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast www.winemag.com (Apr 2019)