2021 Phelan Segur
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Tasting notes
Tasted blind. Glowing dark crimson. Very intense nose – unusual for 2021! Fresh and much less concentrated on the palate than the nose, with marked acidity and quite a bit of fine tannin. A wine with a future. (JR)
Critic scores
Average Score
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
More reviews and scores
Beautiful black raspberries, cassis, violets, spicy herbs, and spicy oak all emerge from the 2021 Château Phelan Segur a blend of 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot brought up 18 months in 55% new French oak. It's medium-bodied, has a supple, incredibly elegant mouthfeel, ripe, polished tannins, and beautiful overall length and elegance. It's another polished, classy, and incredibly seamless wine from director Véronique Dausse and her team. It will drink well with just 2-3 years of bottle age and should see its 20th birthday in fine form.
The 2021 Phélan Ségur has a very appealing bouquet with blackberry, wild strawberry and cedar scents, a touch of black truffle coming through with time. It conveys Saint-Estèphe typicity. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, quite tensile with a fine bead of acidity. It constitutes a linear and perhaps more conservative Phélan that should age well in bottle. Tasted twice.
The 2021 Phélan Ségur turned out beautifully. Dark, somber notes typical of this Saint-Estèphe are present, but also attenuated by the medium-bodied structure of the year. Red cherry, gravel, incense, licorice and dried herbs fill out the layers nicely. The 2021 is a quiet Phélan Ségur, yet all the elements are nicely balanced.
About the producer
With 70 hectares under vine, Ch. Phélan Ségur sits on the eastern side of Saint-Estèphe – neighbouring Montrose and Calon Ségur. Owned by Philippe van de Vyvere since 2017, its gravel soils produce typically firm wines.