Château Phélan Ségur, St Estèphe, 2018

Name: Château Phélan Ségur, St Estèphe
Brand: Château Phélan Ségur
Price: 277.33 GBP

Available Vintages

all 2018 2020 2022 2023 2024

justerini & brooks tasting note

This was a big surprise for us. Normally we find Phelan Segur a bit rustic and joyless; the 2018 was sensational. Big and ambitious but it works. Lots of dark, rich, creamy fruit, notes of fruitcake, blackcurrants, dense big tannins coated with minerals, graphite, flowers, really impressive structure. Enough weight to carry the tannins, and they seem more refined and fruit laced than normal. Voluptuous and very appealing. The best Phelan we can ever remember.

critic reviews

94/100Lisa Perrotti-Brown,The Wine Independent

The 2018 Phelan Segur is deep garnet-purple in color. It leaps with scents of fresh blackcurrants, warm plums, and clove oil, plus suggestions of pencil lead, cedar, and wild sage, with a waft of crushed rocks. Medium to full-bodied, the palate has sturdy, grainy tannins and a lively line supporting muscular black fruits, finishing with an herbal lift.

DRINKING WINDOW 2022 - 2040

date of review 02/2023

93+/100Lisa Perrotti-Brown,Robert Parker Wine Advocate

The 2018 Phelan Segur is composed of 57% Cabernet Sauvignon and 43% Merlot, weighing in at 14% alcohol, 3.8 pH and has an IPT (total polyphenol index) of 77. Deep purple-black in color, it leaps from the glass with vibrant notes of crushed blackberries, blackcurrant jelly and kirsch, plus suggestions of menthol, Ceylon tea, forest floor and lavender. The medium-bodied palate delivers elegance and impressive vivacity with finely grained tannins and a refreshing line supporting the intense red and black berry layers, finishing long and perfumed.

DRINKING WINDOW 2023 - 2040

date of review 03/2021

92/100Neal Martin,Vinous

The 2018 Phélan Ségur appears to have lost the green edge that I observed from barrel, now coming across fresh with blackberry, seaweed and light sea spray scents. It gently unfurls with aeration, though never slips into fifth gear. The palate is medium-bodied with fine-grained tannins, just a touch of dark chocolate infusing the black fruit and a cohesive, slightly peppery finish. This is a deftly crafted Phélan Ségur that will benefit from 3–4 years in bottle.

DRINKING WINDOW 2023 - 2039

date of review 03/2021