Scores
89
Robert Parker
Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the nose of the 2017 Le Marquis de Calon-Ségur is meaty and earthy with baked plums, mulberries, cassis and woodsmoke aromas. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegant, fresh and soft with a juicy finish. The wine was aged in French oak, 30% new, for 17 months. The blend is 57% Merlot and 38% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Cabernet Franc.
90
Vinous
The 2017 Le Marquis de Calon-Ségur, bottled in May 2019, offers attractive blackberry, raspberry coulis and light briary aromas on the nose, which is well defined. The palate is very Pauillac in style with graphite-tinged black fruit, reflecting the higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon now used in the blend. This will form delightful drinking over the next 5 to 8 years.
90
Decanter
This has a floral edge to it and a depth of blueberry fruit that's a little shy at first but comes through on the mid-palate. I like how this fits together, with carefully placed fruits and soft tannins. This isn't an especially powerful Marquis and should be ready to drink within 3 to 4 years, lasting for at least fifteen. There was no frost at Calon, just the dry summer interrupted by 40-50mm of rain at the end of June and then 80mm in September to contend with. This was around the same amount as in 2015, but in September 2015 it fell over two days, whereas this year the rain lasted around 10, which was fine for the Cabernets but a little trickier for the Merlots. 50% of production went to Marquis de Calon, and 10% to the third wine, St-Estèphe de Calon, not tasted here. 30% new oak. Yield of 43.5hl/ha. 3.6pH.