The 2023 Calon Segur Bordeaux Blend, produced by Calon Segur in the St Estephe sub-region of Bordeaux, France, is a highly regarded red wine that has garnered significant praise from several esteemed wine critics. This wine, bottled with a cork closure, features a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot.
James Suckling awards this wine an impressive 97 points, describing it as having a "splendid" nose with notes of blackcurrant, blueberry, cedar, pine needle, and black truffle. He praises its medium-bodied structure with very fresh acidity and fine, linear tannins, concluding that it exhibits "energy" and a "salty character at the last minute" (jamessuckling.com).
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, through the words of William Kelley, also lauds the 2023 Calon Segur with a score of 96 points. Kelley highlights its aromas of cassis, pencil shavings, wild berries, and plums, calling it "medium to full-bodied, cool and layered" with "terrific concentration" and "refined structuring tannins" (Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate).
Antonio Galloni of Vinous remarks that this wine is for those who can be patient, giving it a score of 96 points. He notes its "bold acids and huge tannins" and predicts that it will need time to come together. He highlights the "bright red-toned fruit" and "bright acids" that extend the finish beautifully (Vinous).
Jane Anson, scoring it 97 points, appreciates its "precise and confident texture," noting its high levels of Cabernets, exceptional maturity, and its "violet peony savoury character" with "liquorice root and squid ink salinity" (janeanson.com).
Jeff Leve, also awarding 97 points, describes the wine as rich, balanced, well-defined, and vibrant, with "concentrated layers of fruit" and a finish that lingers for nearly 50 seconds. He emphasizes the "black fruits, dark red berries, flowers, licorice, spice, smoke, and crème de cassis" in its perfume (TheWineCellarInsider.com).
Jeb Dunnuck gives this wine the highest score of 98 points, praising its "stunning array of cassis and black raspberry-like fruits" and "seamlessly textured" body. He notes that it has more mid-palate depth, richness, and length than most other wines (jebdunnuck.com).
Lisa Perrotti-Brown of The Wine Independent and the reviewer from Decanter both give it 97 and 96 points respectively, noting its deep garnet-purple color, bold red and black fruit flavors, fine-grained tannins, and a finish that is long and spicy. They highlight its "succulent and supple" nature with notes of "liquorice, dark chocolate, tobacco, cedar, and clove" (The Wine Independent, Decanter).
Overall, the 2023 Calon Segur is a well-crafted Bordeaux blend that promises to age gracefully, showcasing a harmonious balance of fruit, acidity, and tannins.