Chateau Calon Segur Saint Estephe 1996 750 ML

Saturated ruby-red. Pure, highly perfumed aromas of black cherry, currant, plum, minerals, tobacco, leather and fresh herbs. Very ripe, suave and spicy; at once subtle and gripping.\n \n Producer Information\n \n Château Calon-Ségur is a well-regarded wine estate located in the commune of Saint-Estèphe, on the left bank of the Gironde estuary in northern Bordeaux. The château was rated as a third growth in the 1855 Classification of the Médoc and Graves and is unique in the Médoc as the vineyards are in one single plot surrounded by tall stone walls. The eponymous, flagship wine (often dubbed the "grand vin") is a Bordeaux red blend although it is predominantly made from Cabernet Sauvignon. In some years the Cabernet Sauvignon proportion can be as high as 90 percent. Winegrowing here dates back to the 12th Century, but the name, Calon-Ségur, was first seen in the 18th Century. At the time, the château was owned by Nicolas-Alexandre, the Marquis de Ségur, who also owned Châteaux Latour, Lafite and Margaux. The Marquis decided to add his name to the château alongside the word Calon, the name of the small boats that once transferred timber down the Gironde. As well as changing the name of the estate he also placed a heart on the label of his wine, after he famously stated: "I make wine at Lafite and Latour but my heart belongs to Calon." Calon-Ségur's vineyards are planted on clay and gravel soil, giving the finished wines power and finesse. While Cabernet Sauvignon is dominant in the wines, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot are planted as well, providing blending opportunities. The grand vin is aged in new oak, fined with egg whites and produced in relatively small quantities – 80,000 bottles – every year. The second wine, Marquis de Calon, is predominantly Merlot and aged in barrels, only a third of which are new. The production is much higher than the grand vin and it is produced from younger vines and released younger.