Wine Region: Bordeaux - France
Grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon (53%), Merlot (47%)
Tasting notes:
No doubt that 2015 is a great year for Chateau Phelan Segur that takes advantage of this vintage to create a complete Saint-Estephe. The nose offers a good luscious attack with fruit purity and remarkable concentration on the palate, which possesses a good structure with much ripped, already silky tannins. Freshness and precision are much appreciated. It is a vibrant wine.
Expert ratings:
James Suckling 94 / 100
“This has an air of authority with pristine red fruits, cassis and leafy aromas that lead to a palate with a powerful core of fine, long and fresh tannins. Plenty of ageing potential here. Try from 2025.” - James Suckling
Wine Enthusiast 94 /100
“While there are strong wood flavors here, the wine is also packed with black fruits and ripe tannins. It has the potential to be a generous, full-bodied wine that also shows the fresh character of the vintage.” - Roger Voss
Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate 93 / 100
“The 2015 Phelan Segur, a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon and 47% Merlot aged in 50% new oak, is certainly one of the better offerings from the Saint Estèphe appéllation. For sure, the bouquet is restrained, kept on a leash, but it trots along with crisp blackberry and raspberry fruit, interwoven with an attractive pencil lead note. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannin. It is structured and quite bold, considering the storm that swept across the appéllation during harvest, clearly a lot of sorting here that engenders a clean and pure wine with appreciable mineralité and tension on the foursquare finish. If released at a sensible price, then this would be a recommended Saint Estèphe to consumer over 10-12 years.” - Robert Parker
Vinous 92 / 100
“The 2015 Phélan Ségur has turned out beautifully. Muscular tannins wrap around a core of red cherry, plum, graphite, crushed flowers and mint. There is plenty of substance in the glass. In fact, this is one of the most polished recent young Phélans I can remember tasting. Floral notes add an appealing upper register, while silky, ripe tannins give the 2015 a good bit of early appeal. Perhaps most importantly, the 2015 is not penalized by the rustic tannins that have been an issue here in the past.”
Wine Spectator 91 / 100
“This offers a good core of dark currant and bitter cherry notes, with hints of warm stone and tobacco filling in on the finish. Shows solid grip” - James Molesworth
Jeb Dunnuck 91 / 100
“I was able to taste the 2015 Phelan Segur on multiple occasion and it showed beautifully both times. Black currants, scorched earth, espresso and hints of chocolate all emerge from this medium to full-bodied, concentrated, firm, structured, dense Saint-Estèphe. It needs 3-4 years of bottle age but will see its 20th birthday in fine form.” - Jeb Dunnuck
About the winery:
The history of Château Phélan Ségur is linked to a young Irishman, Bernard Phelan, a wine broker, who left his native land at the end of the 18th century to settle in Bordeaux. In 1805, he acquired the Clos de Garamey located in Saint Estèphe and completed his first acquisition with the purchase of the Ségur de Cabanac estate in 1810. Upon his death, Château Ségur de Garamey was passed on to his son who devoted his life to raising the reputation and quality of the wines produced.
The Château changed owners several times afterwards, and became the property of Xavier Gardinier in 1985. Xavier Gardinier runs the property with his sons and has undertaken restoration work to give the property the lustre of its past. After more than thirty years at the head of the property, the Gardinier family passed the reins of the estate to Philippe Van de Vyvere. This great wine lover fulfills one of his dearest dreams by taking over this prestigious vineyard.
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