Calon Segur exuded charm, harmony and elegance. This is a wine that seemed to me more appealing than the 2010, which was more brawn and power. The 2010 will turn out very well, I am sure, may even outlast the 2011, but this is one very rare 2011 that matches it with greater seduction.
From my blog notes on Bordeaux 2011:
Among the Saint Estephes, Calon Segur remains the most impressive, although Montrose is noteworthy, very classical – and more expensive… Vincent Millet of Calon Segur told me that they had not suffered from hail and that their yields were rather high, about 42 hectoliters per hectare. Quite high for the 2011 vintage, considering that a wine like Chateau Palmer in Margaux had barely half those yields, to take one example. Montrose? Closer to 35 hectoliters per hectare. Another advantage in St Estephe, according to Millet, were that the colder clays kept the subsoil more humid than the gravels during much of the arid growing season, so that Cabernets grown on clay actually were able to mature better… because they did not suffer as much from the dry conditions. I did not taste Cos d’Estournel, but plan to visit and taste later this year, so stay tuned for updates.
Chateau Calon Segur is a wine to purchase in 2011. 13.3% alcohol, with fine acidity, the wine is made with 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. Tasted at the estate on 3 April with Vincent Millet. Aging in 100% new oak, I was amazed how the sample exuded both freshness and sap. No drying tannins, perhaps a touch of tonic austerity on the finish – we are not in 2009 in any case – but very impressively medium-plus bodied. I preferred tasting this at this stage to the 2010 at the same stage last year. Perhaps the 2010 will last longer? But the 2011 has far more charm. 92-95+
Agreed: the Calon was a real sleeper in this vintage. I gave it 91-93, and loved it for its balance and fragrance. Funny you mention Palmer, since I wrote that had I tasted it blind, I would have pegged it as a Margaux rather than a St. Estephe.
Very underrated estate in my opinion. Haven’t tasted any of the young ones, but 96 will be great, it is a vin de garde and some of the older ones really blossom with time.
That’s a fantastic and helpful post, Panos, thank you. It seems the Chateau owners are more into 2011’s than 2010’s as well. Also, my limited experience with fine Bordeaux has shown Calon Segur as a real sleeper
Greetings David, I think that Calon pulled a rabbit out of the 2011 hat. The wine has similar tannin to the 2010, similar numbers, high Cab content, fine balance, although I think that the 2010 is more profound for aging, but not as charming. Which means that you can be safe with the 2011 for at least two more likely three decades. So when your child turns 21, it should turn out to be a real pleasure.
Calon Segur is, as Ken Brown notes in this thread, underrated, and for the 2011 vintage, the charm could mislead one into thinking that the wine is short lived. I hardly think so… James Suckling also compared it to the 1996 vintage, which I have not yet tried, but I suspect that the 1996 is an excellent, long term wine, and Ken confirms that suspicion with his experience.
As mentioned, it is balanced, but I think it lacks the stuffing of 1996. Still it will certainly be around for 21st birthday, and a few years beyond that.
If possible, and the dates work, I would go the Catholic route, figure that life begins at conception, and buy heavily the 2010s.
Not many and the style is very different… Perhaps prefer is strong, but I would say Calon Segur. And some of the whites were terrific, although 2010 was a fine vintage for whites, too. I also liked Pontet Canet and VCC in 2011 a lot, but are they better than 2010? Not sure. Certainly more approachable. The Pontet has a seashell like freshness that is more pronounced in 2011. And I like the Cab Franc in the VCC in 2011.
Panos:
2011 is a birth year and I have been seriously looking at Calon. Parker gave it a 25 year drinkin window. Do you agree with that? Do you think it will still be dirnking well when my son is that old?
I’ve bought modestly. Calon Segur, Clinet and Pontet Canet so far. I’ve got an offer for Pichon Baron and Comtesse at the same price. Researching, weighing and thinking. I own a few vintages of PB and no Comtesse. Has anyone tried either? Opinions welcome. TIA.
Both Pichons were fine in 2011, but 2010 and 2009 seem clearly better to me. Like Fred, I liked the Baron (and the Comtesse) in 2008, too, when tasted from bottle in NYC last year. Depends on the price. The en primeur price seems high, isn’t it?
I mean, if you can get more 2008 in bottle now for a similar price, why bother 2011 EP? Will the price go up by the time the wine is in bottle? I have a feeling it will not, or at least, not significantly. You can buy it by the case once you taste it in bottle, to verify that you like it as a finished wine.
I recall the barrel sample I had as exuding fine substance, and numerically, the tannins are very high. So 25 years sounds reasonable. It will be outrun by the 2010 however, which may prove to be the superior wine, but the 2011 is seductively charming.