2005 Château Calon-Ségur

94 POINTS

Neal Martin - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Tasted from an ex-château bottle at BI Wine & Spirits Calon-Segur dinner in London, the 2005 Calon Segur is on par with the wonderful 2000. The only real difference is that this needs more time in bottle. It has a captivating nose: blackberry and boysenberry fruit coming at you at full pelt; dried blood and bacon fat developing as secondary aromas just behind. There is fine delineation here - an underlying mineralité sure to surface with time. The palate is very intense and disarmingly youthful, almost ferrous on the entry with layers of ripe black fruit that segue into an earthy finish (with a curious light tang of Marmite on the aftertaste!). It is a fabulous Calon Ségur, though the millennial wine might ultimately possess greater precision. We will see. Tasted March 2015.

94 POINTS

James Suckling

Tight and dense still but so integrated and seamless in texture. Aromas of chocolate, hazelnuts, dried spices and currants. Full body, superfine tannins and a texture that is so caressing and beautiful.

94 POINTS

James Suckling

Tight and dense still but so integrated and seamless in texture. Aromas of chocolate, hazelnuts, dried spices and currants. Full body, superfine tannins and a texture that is so caressing and beautiful.

94 POINTS

Gary Walsh - The Wine Front

Of the walk around tasting of 16 or so 2005 Bordeaux reds, or in my case the ‘run around and scurry back to my desk tasting’, this was one of my favourite wines. For the love of Saint-Estèphe. Dried herb, earthy/gravel, vanilla, aromatic, red fruit spectrum more than black. Succulent, then firm al dente tannin, married to satisfying weight and depth of fruit. Lovely balance. Length+. An aristocratic wine – really expressive and fine – and almost certain to age with grace. So yum.

93 POINTS

Wine Spectator

Has a beautiful nose of crushed berry, spices and nutmeg, with a hint of coffee. Then turns to licorice. Full-bodied, with supersilky tannins and a long finish of vanilla, berry and cinnamon. Beautifully crafted. Best after 2014.

93 POINTS

Robert Parker - Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2005 is a beautiful Calon Ségur, with sweet mocha, black cherry, leathery fruit, medium to full body, attractive purity, a gorgeous texture, and serious nobility, gravitas and density. Drink it over the next 20-30 years, yet it is surprisingly accessible.

93 POINTS

James Suckling

A dense, structured red with beautiful aromas of chocolate, hazelnut, dried spices and currants. Full body with superfine tannins and a tight finish. This is a wine that is just beginning to be drinkable but has a long, long life ahead of it. Taste now and dream of the future. Better in 2016.

Jancis Robinson

Light, correct nose. Dry finish. Utterly correct old-fashioned St-Estèphe. This has great charm for me as a completely unreconstructed classic red bordeaux. Thick and stuffed full of vineyard. 13% Drink 2024-2045 18/20