Château Calon Ségur

Calon Ségur is one of the oldest vineyards in Médoc. His name is derived from the term ‘Calones’, which referred to small transport vessels sailing on the Gironde estuary. Wine production started in the XII century and is today part of the iconic estates of Saint-Estèphe.

History of the Estate:

Historians trace Calon’s origins back to Gallo-Roman times. Wine production has been documented since the 12th century, but it was in the 18th century, with the Marquis Nicolas-Alexandre de Ségur, who also owned Latour, Lafite and Mouton, that the estate wrote its finest pages.

Later in 1855, when the estate was under the reigns of Firmin de Lestapis, Calon Ségur appeared in the famous 1855 classification as a third growth.

In 2012, Suravenir, a subsidiary of the Crédit Mutuel Arkéa group, acquired Châteaux Calon Ségur and Capbern. The renovation programme was launched. On 26 September 2016, the new vat room opened for the harvest. The renovated ageing cellars welcomed their first barrels in November.

The Terroir:

Calon Ségur is unique because its terroir is unlike any other. The altitude can reach 13 metres, but the relief is clear and the slopes encourage rainwater to run off. Everywhere, the layers of gravel deposited by the river in the Quaternary period are thick, covering a predominantly clay subsoil. This combination of gravel and clay explains, among other things, the strength and finesse of Calon Ségur wines.

The restructuring of the vineyard begun in 2006 is continuing, with two major objectives: to increase planting density and to give more room to Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Sauvignon now accounts for 56% of the vineyard, alongside 35% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. It will reach 70% by 2032, at the end of the restructuring programme.

The Wines:

The great wine of Calon Ségur is a reflection of its terroir: rare, authentic and moving. With a great deal of naturalness, it reveals both great sweetness and exceptional intensity. The style is driven by a Cabernet Sauvignon that reveals its finesse without arrogance. Elegance is everywhere, in the purity of the flavours and the delicacy of the texture. Finally, the depth and length are remarkable.

The wine’s extraordinary bottle age is another of the estate’s hallmarks. The 1947, 1953 and 1982 vintages, for example, show astonishing signs of youth.