Saint-Estèphe

2004

3rd Growth

57% Cabernet Sauvignon
34% Merlot
7% Cabernet Franc
2 % Petit Verdot

Region: Bordeaux

ESTATE HISTORY 

"Calon", meaning a little river skiff used in the Middle Ages to ferry timber across the Gironde estuary, gave the name to this district which was at one point known as Calones or Saint-Estèphe-de-Calon. In early times, Château Calon-Ségur was one of the original three vineyards in Saint-Estèphe and, in 1825, Château Montrose (in 1855 classified as a Second Growth) was a forest-land parcel belonging to the Calon-Ségur estate.

By marriage, the estate came to be owned by Nicolas-Alexandre, marquis de Ségur who also owned Château Latour and Château Lafite. Despite his ownership of these two First Growths, the Marquis said that "I make wine at Lafite and Latour but my heart is at Calon Ségur." The wine's label today includes a drawing of a heart around the Château’s name.

In the modern era, the estate has been owned by the Capbern Gasqueton family since 1894. After Mme Capbern-Gasqueton's death, it was sold in 2012 to Suravenir Assurances, an insurance company.

Chinese winemaker Emma Gao trained at the château, where she met her future husband, winemaker Thierry Courtade.

TERROIR

Soil: A thick layer of gravel laid down during the Quaternary Period. Predominantly clay
sub-soil from the Tertiary Period. At the summit of the gravel deposits, there is also
a fine layer of clay of lacustrine origin.
Vineyard area: 55 ha (136 acres)
Area in production:
45 ha (50 ha planted)

VITICULTURE

Average of the vines: 20 years. Training method: Double Guyot. Planting density:
8,000 vines/ha.

WINEMAKING

Harvest: Hand picking. A first selection of grapes on the vine. Mechanical sorting of the grapes by vibration, followed by hand sorting.
Vinification: Temperature-controlled tronconical stainless-steel tanks. Vatting period for 18 to 21 days. Microbubbling. Co-inoculation, exogenous yeast and bacterias, in stainless steel tank at 25°C.
Ageing: 20 months, 100% new barrels. Fining with egg white.

TASTING & FOOD PAIRINGS

91 points James Suckling
"Lovely soft tannins with coffee and cedar with ripe fruit. China tea. Subtle. Cloves too. Full and round with beautiful fruit and a crisp finish. Very ready. At its peak."

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

*Please note the image is of a representative bottle. For pictures of the actual bottle please contact us.