Château Calon Ségur 2022

On the label of every bottle of Château Calon Ségur is a heart -- a symbol which has become synonymous with the estate.  It was meant to immortalize the love its very first owner, the Marquis de Ségur felt for the property.  He is famously known for saying, “I make wine at Lafite and Latour, but my heart is at Calon.”

For context, Château Calon Ségur was a part of the holdings of the illustrious Marquis de Ségur, who was affectionately known as the, “Prince of Vines”  throughout the Court of Versailles.  The Marquis owned three of the top Pauillac Estates besides Château Calon Ségur – Château Lafite Rothschild, Château Latour, and Château Mouton Rothschild.  Both Château Lafite-Rothschild and Château Latour were classified as First Growth Estates in 1855 and though Mouton Rothschild was ranked a Second Growth property, it would later be re-classified as a First Growth in 1973.  Naturally, the team at Château Calon Ségur would choose the emblem of a heart to commemorate the property’s status as the Marquis’ favorite. 

Château Calon Ségur was ranked as a Third Growth estate during Napoleon’s 1855 Classification. It was one of the oldest estates in Saint-Estèphe, with origins dating back to the Gallo Roman era.  It rose to prominence when the Marquis took over viticultural operations, and thus began the immortalized love affair between man and vine.  After the Marquis passed, the property changed hands throughout the centuries, but one constant remained – a passion devoted to crafting excellent wines.  Even during the most trying years like the 1940s and 1950s where many other châteaux failed to produce good vintages, Château Calon Ségur continued to dazzle.

A small team of 50 oversee operations in the 55-hectare walled-off vineyard.  This is unique to the Left Bank estates in the Médoc.  The terroir has a mixture of colorful clays and gravel which serve as a sponge, retaining water and giving the grapes a signature freshness.  The wines of Calon Ségur do not have the typical chunky and awkward backwardness of many Saint-Estèphe.  The technical director, Vincent Millet, takes great measures to ensure the wines here have finesse, and a lot of this is due to their gravity flow vat room and refusal to use any punch downs during the winemaking process. 

The estate is implementing an extensive replanting program scheduled to finish in 2032 increasing the percentage of Cabernet to 70% of its vineyards.  Initially, the wines of Château Calon Segur were energetic wines that were typical of the Saint-Estèphe region.  Now these wines are purer, with more fruit and a startling intensity to them.   These delicate wines unfold beautifully but require some time.  Top vintages of Château Calon Ségur need at least a decade or more to fully express themselves.  At Calon Ségur, the heart has become more than just a symbol representing the Marquis de Ségur.  It represents the love and passion they put toward crafting beautiful wine. 

"The flagship 2022 Château Calon Ségur checks in as 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. It's a massive wine from this château that brings a fabulous nose of darker currants, smoked tobacco, chocolaty oak, graphite, and loamy earth. This full-bodied, deep, unctuous Saint-Estèphe has a round, layered mouthfeel, remarkably pure tannins, and flawless overall balance. It's going to take a decade to shed its baby fat, but this is legit sensational juice! Don’t miss it." - Jeb Dunnuck, (02/27/2025), Ratings: 98, Drink: 2033-2083

"The 2022 Calon-Ségur is another superb wine from this historic Saint-Estèphe third growth that began a comprehensive renaissance the better part of a decade ago. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of cassis and blackberries mingled with hints of fresh mint, burning embers, licorice and violets, it's medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, with terrific depth at the core, supple tannins and a long, saline finish. The blend consists of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Vincent Millet observed that "when you tasted the Merlot, you were under the impression that you were tasting Cabernet." - William Kelley, The Wine Advocate, (05/02/2023), Ratings: 96-98

"Rich and vibrant on the nose, smells concentrated and alcoholic. Crisp and clean on the palate however with bite to the cherry, plum and blackcurrant fruit alongside a hint of sweet strawberry and herbal raspberry on the mid palate that gives some instant energy before the clear concentration and heft of the wine shows through. Not so much in the texture but in the ripe flavours, cool minty and stone edged tannins and clear liquorice and clove spice. Still taught but detailed with elements of generosity. 2% Petit Verdot completes the blend. 3.65pH. A yield of 26hl/ha. Ageing 17 months, 30% new oak." - Georgina Hindle, Decanter, (05/25/2023), Ratings: 96

"Slate and chalk textured tannins, skilful work over ageing to ensure a focus on Cabernet Sauvignon. The intensity and concentration are seductive and you can expect plenty of black chocolate, espresso, cocoa bean, liquorice, crème de cassis, seriously enjoyable, clear ageing ability. 100% new oak in the cellars. 28hl/h yield, following hail. Harvest September 6 through to 27." - Jane Anson, (03/07/2025), Ratings: 96