| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Estèphe |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
The vines of this 70 hectare St Estephe property are situated between Montrose and Calon Ségur. The vineyard is planted with 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 1.5% Cabernet Franc and 1.5 % Petit Verdot. Owned by the Gardinier family who also own the famous Taillevent restaurant in Paris. Recent vintages have been well up to classed growth standards.
Another sleeper from Saint-Estèphe, the 2016 Phélan Ségur is super impressive. An enticing bouquet laced with crushed rocks, graphite, iron, smoke, lavender, mint and inky blue/purplish fruit makes a strong opening statement. A wine of power, resonance and gravitas, the 2016 Phélan is remarkably expressive and also full of potential. Tasted two times. Drink 2024-2041.
A very serious St.-Estèphe with excellent concentration, firm tannins and a dark soul. I love the earth, walnut, bark and smoke aromas that pour out of this. Very long, dramatic, dry finish. Better from 2021.
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2016 Phélan Ségur gives elegant red and black currants, kirsch and black berries with violets and chocolate box scents plus a waft of cigars. The palate is medium-bodied, elegant, fine grained and fresh with great vibrancy and mineral notes on the finish. Drink 2019-2031.
The 2016 Phélan-Ségur has a generous nose of pencil-lead-infused black fruit, plus touches of wild mint and damp earth/truffle aromas. The palate is medium-bodied with gritty tannins and a fine bead of acidity. It feels slightly pinched toward a finish that displays just a soupçon of dryness, but there is commendable persistence in situ. Tasted blind at the Southwold tasting. 2021 - 2036
An exceptional St Estèphe in this vintage, and one to seek out, not fully ready to drink today, but on its way. This has a tight structure, with creamy and succulent tannins, waves of black fruits, still young but you could fully dive in with a bit of clever carafing. One to get hold of. 70ha vineyard, owned by Philippe Van de Vyvere, director Veronique Dausse, consultants Michel Rolland and Julien Viaud.
Tasted blind. Zippy, intense, bags of fruit on the nose. Round and gorgeous. Masses of fruit covers the tannin and without too much acidity – unexpected for this appellation. Dry end though.
Drink 2026 – 2045
The vines of this 70 hectare St Estephe property are situated between Montrose and Calon Ségur. The vineyard is planted with 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, 39% Merlot, 1.5% Cabernet Franc and 1.5 % Petit Verdot. Owned by the Gardinier family who also own the famous Taillevent restaurant in Paris. Recent vintages have been well up to classed growth standards. In 2016, the blend is 55% Cabernet Sauvignon and 45% Merlot. The harvest ended on 21st October in 2016, which is the latest ever here. Ripe cassis and a touch of herbal thyme and rosemary on the nose. The palate is firm in tannic structure, but pure in juicy black fruits. Classic structure with good prpecision and a savoury edge, this shows great St Estephe typicity.
Showing beautifully on multiple occasions, the 2016 Château Phélan Ségur is incredibly impressive and reveals a saturated purple as well as pure cassis, violets, damp earth, lead pencil, and spice-driven aromas and flavors. Beautifully layered and textured, concentrated, with fine tannins and the purity and elegance that make the vintage so compelling front and center, it’s a high-class Saint Estèphe to enjoy over the coming 20-25 years or more. Drink 2019-2044.
The nose is bright with bramble and bilberry the start of the palate fresh the mid palate rich with concentrated black cherry the fruit underpinned by firm but fine tannins. Ripe and rich at the back the finish is brighter with fresh fruits nice length. 2025-41
I can’t recall tasting a better young Phélan-Ségur than this rich, concentrated, abundantly perfumed 2016 release. It’s a confident, self-assured wine displaying all the good things about St Estèphe and none of the gruffness the appellation sometimes suffers from. Smooth, nuanced and refined with plush blueberry and blackcurrant fruit and fine tannins. 2026-38
The 2016 Phélan-Ségur has a refined bouquet of earthy black fruit, black truffle and smoke, perhaps just needing a little more vigor. The palate is medium-bodied, with quite grainy tannin, and a little rigid at the moment. The linear, conservative, pencil-lead-infused finish needs more flesh to develop with bottle age. Not bad, but I think the 2015 is better. It feels as if it doesn’t want to go the extra mile like others in Saint-Estèphe. Drink 2021-2036.
The 2016 Phelan-Segur has a really quite superb bouquet, quite Pauillac-like in style with graphite-infused black fruit, subtle tertiary notes and later, pressed flowers. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin. There is plenty of tobacco-infused black fruit here, crisp and focused with a lovely salinity on the finish that lingers in the mouth. This is a strong follow-up to the excellent 2015 and may even surpass it. This is a Saint-Estephe that is getting better and better.
Drink Date 2022 - 2045
A super fragrant red with blackberry and blueberry aromas plus hints of blackcurrants. Full-bodied, powerful and structured. Tannic. Very long finish. A muscular and intense wine.
Some wines are just about pure pleasure, and from the first glass you know that this is begging you to sit back, enjoy, and pour a glass for a friend. Not as long living as some of the other wines on this list, but it's a 2016 that shows the beauty of the vintage without having to wait another five years to enjoy. Cocoa bean, espresso and tar dominate on the first nose, then bristling blackcurrant fruits appear, with tension through the palate and a mouthwatering finish. 50% new oak.
They finished picking here on 25th October, one of the latest ever harvests at Phélan. Feathery tannins and a fresh, ripe but crunchy aspect to the fruit gives a real sense of vivacity and grip. I love the dark pepper spice that clamps around the fruit on the second half of the palate. This is an excellent vintage for Phélan, for me better than both the 2015 and 2014. It's full of life with silky, extremely pliable tannins (the IPT comes in at 89, but they reflect the signature of the vintage by being soft and lush) and a slow build up to a juicy frame that catches the fruit. Blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 45% Merlot, aged in 50% new oak.
Drinking Window 2024 - 2042
Comfortable, well-balanced, bone-dry rendition. Very appetising. Very dry finish. Classical build. Far from heavy. Meaty and spicy and very agreeable to drink!
Drink 2025-2040
