CHÂTEAU CALON SÉGUR

70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot. 100% new oak – will be matured for 20 months. 15% alc. 26 hl/ha. 3.8 pH. 57% of production went into this wine which equates to 70,000 bottles While 15% alcohol might seem to be a little elevated in this vintage compared to almost all of the other wines in this Report, the 2020 and 2018 vintages were also 15%, which are both perfectly balanced wines. 2022 is yet another incredible creation from Calon, and this time it packs more spice into its makeup than I have seen before. It appears that the Merlot has soaked up the barrel tones on the front palate, and then Cabernet takes up the baton on the middle palate and finish. They had very low yields at Calon. The berries were 20% smaller than usual, so this wine and its siblings are densely flavoured, luxurious and exotic. The key to this wine’s success is the careful handling that ensured the fruit gave up its perfume and flavours without any unwanted astringency. Despite the heat wave temperatures during the day, night-time temperatures were low, so the acidity is fine and crisp. This means there is tension throughout this wine, and it is intense, powerful and lusty but not heavy. This is a stunning, stylish and super-glossy creation for a wine of these dimensions, and it will shock Calon lovers with its bravado and generosity. Rating: 19+ Matthew Jukes www.matthewjukes.com (May 2023)

This estate's vintage attains levels of alcohol and concentration that are impressive. It nevertheless finds its point of balance thanks to well preserved freshness whose thread of acidity adds liveliness to the finish in a minty touch. Very long. Rating: 97-98 La Revue du Vin de France (May 2023)

This is 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc and 1% Petit Verdot, a little more Merlot this year as they have incorporated fruit from a parcel of Merlot planted on clay, now twelve years old, which hit grand vin quality in 2022. This has a very fine fragrance on the nose, showing much more floral perfume than the second wine and Capbern, with violets, rose petals and crushed black cherry to the fore, with a little of the vintage’s dark chocolate underneath. The palate is very convincing, showing a supple, sinewy and rather lithe construct through the middle, with a savoury core of blackberry and chocolate fruits, wrapped in a grip of tight-knit tannins. It finishes cleanly, with a very fine grip. This is a more elegant Calon this year, even if the alcohol is 15%. Rating: 95-97 Chris Kissack, www.thewinedoctor.com (May 2023)