1982 Calon Segur
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Tasting notes
At age 40, the 1982 Calon-Ségur remains a powerful, muscular wine that still takes several hours to open up in the decanter. Exhibiting aromas of sweet blackcurrants, earthy undergrowth and pencil shavings, it's rich, full-bodied and concentrated, with imposing reserves of firm, powdery tannin underpinned by its deep core of fruit. This old school, unreconstructed claret, which I imagine was forbiddingly austere for much of the first three decades of its life, is a wine the likes of which simply aren't produced in contemporary Bordeaux.
Critic scores
Average Score
Wine Spectator
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The 1982 Calon Ségur, en magnum, has a straightforward yet fragrant nose with brambly red fruit, incense and hints of sandalwood. This is open and generous yet missing the finesse of some top-ranking 1982s. It certainly feels fully mature. The palate is medium-bodied with a granular texture, a little harshness deriving from coarser tannins compared to say, the 1982 Cos d'Estournel. Fine acidity and plenty of graphite-tinged black fruit with a slight harshness towards the finish. (NM)
Very deep crimson with some evolution. Gentle, big, bloody start and then quite rustic fruit. Chewy finish. (JR)
(or 96!) Deep youthful crimson. Very full and relatively opulent. Some real terroir minerality on the nose. Lively, full but callow. Quite thick with lots of impact on the palate. Lots of tannins. (JR)
About the producer
Wedding gift lists traditionally include wine glasses or cutlery, but in 1718, Nicolas-Alexandre de Ségur, the owner of Château Lafite and Château Latour and president of the Bordeaux parliament, received a rather more impressive present: Château Calon.