2023, Château Phélan-Ségur, SAINT-ESTÈPHE

Last Year EP $81.00-

The vines of this 70 hectare St Estèphe property are situated between Montrose and Calon Ségur.
In 2023 it is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot.

The polish and intensity of this wine is beautiful for the vintage, with blackcurrant, lead pencil and light chocolate character. It’s medium- to full-bodied with well-integrated fruit and tannins, and a long finish. Velvet texture. Excellent potential. Fermented from selected yeast from the various parcels. Let’s see which is better in the end, 2022 or 2023.
96-97 James Suckling.

Standout quality, delivering squid ink, cocoa bean, espresso, fresh cut herbs, sculpted and impressively confident, with frame and architecture while remaining succulent, and appealing. Will be ready to drink within four or five years of bottling but go for decades. An exciting estate right now, Philippe Van de Vyvere owner, Veronique Dausse director. Really one to look out for. If you follow my notes I hate saying this, but I truly believe this is the best Phélan Ségur that I have tasted En Primeur. 55% new oak for ageing.
95 Jane Anson

An excellent Phélan. Darkly fragrant, herbal and softly floral with blackcurrant, red cherry and coffee bean accents. Smooth and supple, gorgeous approachability in the juiciness and sense of life. So easy to enjoy this, cool and classic scents of blue fruits and crisp red fruit. Layered, clean and finessed. Svelte, not much muscle but there’s underlying power in the long finish with hints of mint. Extremely balanced and juicy, with a touch of sweetness and freshness and then the cleaning minerality comes through giving a powdery soft ending with elements of wet stone and graphite. Very St-Estephe and very successful.
95 Georgina Hindle, Decanter.

The 2023 Phélan Ségur displays that strong crushed strawberry fruit, almost confit-like character, turning more floral with aeration. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-boned tannins. This is very well balanced. There is just a touch of balsamic that perks up the finish, while graphite notes join the chorus line toward the close. Quite an "involving" wine - this will be fascinating to revisit once in bottle.
92-94 Neal Martin,