Tasted ex-château and single blind in Southwold. This is a great Calon Segur from the late Mme Gasqueton, surpassing my appraisal in October 2010. The nose is delectable: very lifted perfume, well defined with crisp black fruit, cassis, tobacco and a touch of gravel. Very Saint Estephe. The palate is medium-bodied with an almost understated, very elegant entry that builds nicely towards a very well defined, classy finish. There is very high quality fruit and winemaking in evidence. Tasted January 2012.

(90-92 pts)
En primeur barrel sample. Based upon 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, this has a deep garnet core. The nose has a distinct earthiness to it. Blackberry, a touch of pain grille and black pepper. A little rustic but charming. The palate is full-bodied, firm tannins, quite spicy and lively, blackberry, a touch of raspberry coulis and wild strawberry. Firm grip, masculine as always. Fresh with a touch of soy towards the bitter “chunky” finish. Quintessential Calon. Tasted March 2009.

(80% cabernet sauvignon, 18% merlot and 2% petit verdot; a 50% selection for the grand vin; 80% new oak) Deep ruby-red. Captivating aromas of blackcurrant, sweet spices and milk chocolate, nicely lifted by hints of minerals and graphite. Enters the mouth creamy and fruity, with flavors of small berries and plum, then turns somewhat tighter and distinctly minerally on the long, smooth, restrained finish. This is classic claret, a wine admirably combining grace and power, and just one of a string of very fine wines from Calon-Segur in the last ten years. Denise Capbern-Gasqueton is still very active (at 85 years of age) in the day-to-day running of the winery, helped out brilliantly by technical director and winemaker Vincent Millet, who told me that "the long autumn saved us: in 2008 we started picking the cabs on the day we had finished in 2007."

Red-ruby. Musky, expressive aromas of mocha, smoke, menthol, black olive, underbrush and herbs. A sweet, silky midweight with a strong streak of acidity running through the moderately ripe flavors of currant, black cherry, herbs and minerals. Not hugely ripe but nicely fine-grained. Quite suave but rather ungiving today--and not yet delivering on its complex nose.

A blend of 82% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot, this is an outstanding wine made in a classic style. The tannins are high, but the wine possesses abundant notes of cedar, licorice, underbrush, black currants and cherries. Medium-bodied and dense, but structured and backward (as are most vintages of Calon-Segur), give it 7-8 years of cellaring and drink it over the next 20-25.
90 Pts, Robert Parker Wine Advocate # 194, May 2011

Perhaps that explains the elegant, but rich style of the 2008 Calon Segur, which is dominated more than usual by Cabernet Sauvignon. Cropped at 40 hectoliters per hectare, it is a blend of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot. Its sweet perfume of black currants, tobacco leaf, and licorice is followed by a wine with superb purity, good freshness, and a full-bodied style with ripe tannin as well as a long finish. Somewhat reminiscent of the 1996, although this vintage carries a much higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon, the 2008 should be relatively approachable given the sweetness of the tannins, and will evolve for 20-25 years.
90-93 Pts, Robert Parker Wine Advocate # 182, Apr 2009

Expressive new-oak scent with a toasty style to the aroma. Black cherry and blackcurrant fruit – ripe and satisfying and modern, and the oak and fruit flavours are well integrated. (RH)