Calon Segur Wine (Vineyards, 8 Best Vintages, Prices 2024)

Hollywood star Johnny Depp once professed his love for Chateau Calon Segur wine - he called it a “marvelous wine that you can drink every day.” 

And, we agree!

Chateau Calon Segur is one of the crown jewels in the Grand Cru Saint Estephe commune of the Bordeaux wine region, France. With a heritage dating back to 1147, this Troisiemes Cru Classe (Third Growth) estate is among the oldest properties in Saint Estephe.

Let’s discover all about this beautiful estate, its fascinating history, and its winemaking practices. Also, check out our list of 8 stunning Chateau Calon Segur wines for you to buy in 2024. 

We even have a hassle-free solution for you to add this fine wine to your portfolio!

A Quick Look at Chateau Calon Segur

Chateau Calon Segur is the northernmost estate in the Medoc appellation of Saint Estephe. It lies on the Left Bank of the Gironde river. 

Unlike Cos d’Estournel and other chateaux in the Medoc region, Calon Segur is characterized by a single vineyard plot surrounded by high stone walls.

The flagship Calon Segur Chateau Grand Vin is made of Cabernet Sauvignon, unlike other Merlot dominant Bordeaux blends. 

Chateau Calon Segur also produces a second wine called Marquis de Calo (sold as Le Marquis de Calon Segur) made primarily from Merlot. 

The Chateau sells a third Bordeaux blend wine under two names - La Chapelle de Calon and St. Estephe de Calon Segur - made using Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. 

Now, let’s explore the exciting history of Chateau Calon Segur.

The Origin and Evolution of Chateau Calon Segur

The estate’s name comes from the Roman word ‘calon’ and refers to small boats that used to ferry timber across the Gironde estuary. 

Winemaking began at this picturesque estate in the early 12th century but scaled greater heights after the Chateau’s inception by Marquis Nicolas-Alexandre de Ségur in 1718. The plantation came to be called Calon Segur. 

Marquis de Segur also owned Chateau Latour Rothschild, Chateau Lafite, Chateau Margaux, and Chateau Mouton at the time, but harbored a preference for Calon. In fact, The heart emblem you find today on a Calon Segur wine’s label is a representation of Marquis de Segur’s love for Calon wines.

In 1825, the uncultivated vines in the forest of Chateau Montrose and the neighboring Phelan Segur were part of the Segur estate, making it one of Bordeaux’s largest original vineyards. 

After a few changes in ownership, Georges Gasqueton and Charles Hanappier bought the vineyards of Chateau Calon Segur in 1894. 

The Gasqueton family also owned a cru bourgeois property, Chateau Capbern Gasqueton. The last Gasqueton family member to own the Chateau Calon Segur was Madame Denise Gasqueton.

Following the demise of Madame Gasqueton, the Chateau was sold to its present owner, a French insurance company called Suravenir Insurance, in 2012.

Next, let’s take a look at the vine growing practices at Chateau Calon Segur. 

Chateau Calon Segur Vineyards and Viticulture

The 55-hectare vineyard of the Chateau has a unique Calon terroir composed of gravel and clay from primitive lakes. Ever since the 1855 Classification, the estate has remained one of the few walled vineyards in the Bordeaux region. 

Only 45 hectares are used for vine plantation. Of the remaining 10 hectares, five hectares are planted with young vines harvested every three years. The remaining five hectares are a mix of vetch and lotus seedlings, which act as pesticides against nematode worms and help revitalize the soil.

The vineyard slopes help rainwater to drain well. Nourished by the Gironde estuary, the estate has its own unique micro-climate. 

The grape varietals cultivated on 60 different parcels of the vineyard include Cabernet Sauvignon (53%), Merlot (38%), Cabernet Franc (7%), and Petit Verdot (2%). The average vine density is about 8,000 vines per hectare.

The Chateau has adapted a replanting program resulting in young vines with an average age of 25 years. However, older vines on the east of the appellation, closer to the Gironde estuary, are about 45 to 60 years old.

Chateau Calon Segur employs new-age cartographic and satellite imagery techniques to analyze every square meter of the vineyard for its classified growth vines.

To protect each vine at the Chateau from weeds and to enhance the harvest, Calon Segur uses the following techniques:

• Chaussage: Earthing of vine bases during winter
• Acanage: Tying the vine stock to a wooden stake to orient its growth in the desired direction
• Pliage: Tying two bent vine canes to the wire separating the vine rows
• Dechaussage: Ploughing to move the earth at the base of vines
• Ebourgeonnage: Removal of excessive buds or shoots from the vines
• Epamprage: Removal of non-fruit-bearing shoots on old wood

These viticultural practices are repeated throughout the growing period until the grapes reach maturity.

Let’s look behind the scenes of the winemaking process at the Chateau.

Winemaking at Chateau Calon Segur 

The berries, once at optimal ripeness, are hand-harvested. The harvested grapes are then de-stemmed, sorted, cooled to 12°C, and then taken to the vats for winemaking. 

The vat house at Chateau Calon Segur facilitates a gravity-flow vinification. The first step is a pre-fermentation cold soak, followed by crushing and fermentation in 70 stainless steel conical tanks.

The fermented wine is aged in new oak barrels for about 20 months. This integrates the ripe tannin of the grape and the oak, enhancing the wine’s vibrancy. Its major grape, Cabernet Sauvignon, defines the Grand Vin’s character.

The Chateau’s second wine, Le Marquis de Calon Segur, is another expression of the Calon terroir. While unique in texture and flavor, the second wine also reflects a few traits of the Chateau’s signature Grand Vin.

Want to own a bottle or two of this fine wine? 

Let’s look at some of the best Chateau Calon Segur wines you can buy in 2024.

8 Best Chateau Calon Segur Wines to Buy in 2024

Here’s a list of some of our favorite Chateau Calon Segur wines:

1. 1928 Chateau Calon Segur

This wine blend has a fresh fruit core and an addictive nose of cedar, roasted herbs, and cassis. The flavor profile of this vintage is earthy and fruity, suffused with hints of raspberry, black cherry, and plum.

Price of 1928 Chateau Calon Segur: $5,157

2. 1945 Chateau Calon Segur 

This remarkable wine blend retains its youthful freshness even today. It boasts an intense red fruit and plum nose with a robust palate of baked cherries, black fruit, and liqueur. It has grainy tannins with balanced acidity.

Price of 1945 Chateau Calon Segur: $1,581

3. 1955 Chateau Calon Segur 

This great wine has a bouquet of fresh and spicy aromas of cassis, tobacco, cedar, and cigar box offset by a rustic tasting note of baked cherries, plum, and red fruit. 

Price of 1955 Chateau Calon Segur: $1,243

4. 1926 Chateau Calon Segur

This fine vintage blend is robust for its age, with fresh red fruit and black cherry aromas offset by a nose of roasted herbs and baking spice.

Its ripe tannin and strong acidity make it an excellent complement to classic meat dishes, smoky charcuterie, roast chicken, as well as Asian seafood. 

Price of 1926 Chateau Calon Segur: $1,146

5. 1916 Chateau Calon Segur

This vintage wine offers a dense palate with hints of minerality. It is a full-bodied wine with an intense nose of burnt earth, plum, and black fruit.

Price of 1916 Chateau Calon Segur: $1,019

6. 1918 Chateau Calon Segur

This excellent wine blend with grainy tannins has a fruity and spicy aroma that still retains its freshness. The nose of pepper and cassis is offset by the mouthfeel of a cherry, red fruit, and strawberry tasting note. 

Price of 1918 Chateau Calon Segur: $932

7. 1985 Chateau Calon Segur Marquis de Calon

This second wine of Chateau Calon Segur is a ruby red wine with fruity aromas of fresh figs, blackberries, cherries, and hints of baking spice. It has firm tannins on the palate with a long finish.

Price of 1985 Chateau Calon Segur Marquis de Calon: $123

8. 2012 Chateau Calon Segur La Chapelle de Calon

This flavorful third wine of the Chateau boasts a fresh nose of red cherry, rose, plum, cedar, and cranberry. It is medium-bodied with moderate alcohol content and high acidity. The wine is an excellent companion for a platter of smoky charcuterie.

Price of 2012 Chateau Calon Segur La Chapelle de Calon: $47

Now, is the Chateau Calon Segur wine a worthy investment choice? 

Let’s find out.

Investing in Chateau Calon Segur

The Grand Vin of Chateau Calon Segur has excellent aging potential and can be enjoyed to its fullest after 10 to 15 years. The second wine, Le Marquis de Calon Segur, is relatively lighter and offers a bouquet of flavors in its youth.

Some of the vintages have received great reviews from critics. The 2000 Calon-Segur score a 94 from Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate.  

Chateau Calon Segur is a good investment-grade wine, and many of its vintages have shown a substantial appreciation in value over the years. For instance:

• In 2019-’20, the 1945 Chateau Calon-Segur grew in value by about 54% from $850 to $1,309.
• The 1952 Chateau Calon-Segur appreciated by 110% from $182 to $382 between August 2020 and January 2021.

Chateau Calon Segur wines also amaze wine collectors at auctions:

• At an April 2021 Sotheby’s auction, a 7-bottle lot of the 1982 Chateau Calon Segur was sold for $1,250.
• A lot of 12 bottles of the 2008 vintage of Chateau Calon Segur was sold for $1,127 at a 2020 Sotheby’s auction.
• In February 2021, a 12-bottle lot of 1970 Chateau Calon Segur wine was sold for $3,750 at another Sotheby’s auction.

You can buy Chateau Calon Segur wine in magnum format as well, besides the standard 750 ml size. 

But, how do you go about investing in these sought-after fine wines? 

Vinovestcan help with that.

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Add a Bottle of the Delightful Chateau Calon Segur To Your Collection Today!

Chateau Calon Segur offers a wholesome wine experience through its age-worthy fine Grand Vin and youthful second and third wines. 

The rich heritage and high quality of Chateau Calon Segur St Estephe makes it a worthy wine investment on par with the big leagues of Bordeaux.

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