The Grand Vin of Calon Ségur mirrors its terroir. It is rare, authentic and stirs the soul. In the most natural way, it reveals both great delicacy and outstanding intensity. All the magic of Calon is in this balance. The wine is aged in new oak barrels for 20 months, the tannins of the oak integrating harmoniously over time with the tannins of the grapes. The style is brought by a Cabernet Sauvignon which expresses its finesse without arrogance. Elegance is to be found everywhere, in the purity of the wine’s flavours, in the delicacy of its texture, while its depth and length are also superb. The wine’s extraordinary ability to age many years in bottle is another feature of the estate. The 1947, 1953 and 1982 vintages, by way of example, still display astonishing signs of youth.

Appellation

Saint-Estèphe.
Third classified Growth in 1855.

Consulting oenologist

Éric Boissenot.

Soil

A thick layer of gravel laid down during the Quaternary Period. Predominantly clay sub-soil from the Tertiary Period. At the summit of the gravel deposits, there is also a fine layer of clay of lacustrine origin.

Area

55 ha (136 acres).

Production area

48 ha (50 ha planted).

Grape varieties

57% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 2 % Petit Verdot.

Average vine age

22 years.

Pruning method

Double Guyot.

Planting density

8,000 vines/ha.

Yield target

45 hl/ha.

Harvest

Hand picking. A first selection of grapes on the vine. Mechanical sorting of the grapes by vibration, followed by hand sorting.

Vinification

Temperature-controlled conical stainless-steel tanks. Maceration for 18 to 21 days.

Ageing

18 to 20 months, 100% new barrels. Fining with egg white.

Average annual production

Around 80,000 bottles.