Pre-Labour Day drinks: Beautiful, expressive nose with tobacco, leather and a hint of pyrazines. Regal and classy on the palate, had a superb restraint and understated nature which I love in wines. Acidity, tannins and fruit were in perfect balance at this stage of its development. Guessed 1996 Montrose and when revealed to be a Saint-Estèphe but not Montrose, could only be Calon Segur who knocked it out of the park in this vintage. This wine was on my list to try, and happy that it was firing on all cylinders. A fantastic old-school Bordeaux at its peak
Stood up for months and decanted off age-appropriate sediment. Deep ruby with age-appropriate bricking; medium-plus intensity aromatics with blackberry, capsicum, tobacco, smoky cedar, forest floor; palate is medium-full bodied, refreshing medium-plus acidity throughout, very balanced medium alcohol (honestly could be 12.5%), perfect balance of some residual youthful fruit with early tertiary complexity and fully integrated tannins; medium length finish. This is superbly balanced bordeaux at maturity, showing impeccable fruit and additional complexity. Ready to go immediately after decanting, but this should have a few years left in it. (Also ready to go now, and I'll start drinking through my bottles.) Unlike my note from 2018, this wasn't at all thin through the midpalate and seems balanced throughout. Of note, none of the rustic tannin-heavy feel of most St. Estephe. The balance on this is really a standout. 94 Double decanted when first opened, retasted 5-6 hours later and this had started to fade a bit and lose some vibrancy. Drink when first opened.
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[Dinner at Salil's. Double decanted an hour and a half before serving.] Loads of rich fruit in the nose with hints of leather and cigar box. Rich red currants and graphite in the mouth. Expansive. A terrific Bordeaux with a long life ahead.
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Double decanted an hour and a half before serving. Terrific old school claret here - black fruit, cedar, tobacco, greener herbal notes, and a more savoury earthy/graphite character all come together seamlessly on a medium weight frame. It's not a big wine, but there's remarkable intensity to the aromatics, and a striking palate presence with bright acids giving it a sense of lift and vibrancy. Lovely wine that still has years ahead - I'll hold my remaining bottles a while longer.
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Bob’s cellar. Deep dark purple red, no bricking. Fulsome nose of blackcurrant, lively acidity and bite. Flavours are warm and balanced, earthy forest floor, unsmoked cigar, grip and a this is an even and persistent exhibition of Bordeaux. Long lasting flavours - 30 seconds or more. Really good.
Medium garnet in colour. Pronounced nose intensity with notes of tobacco, smoke, sandal wood, charr wood, cedar, leather, wet forest, cooked black fruits. On the palate, acidity is medium and medium tannin. Full bodied with pronounced intensity flavour.
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One of the best wines I’ve had all year. In a perfect window blending graphite/lead secondary notes on the nose with vibrant fruit and acidity on the palate and long velvety tannins on the finish. Feels like it’s in a perfect window now. Great with or without food.
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Plum and cherry fruit, hints of cinnamon and a touch of mushrooms. A classic Left Bank wine, muscular impressions from the Cabernet but balanced with a warm fruit finish. This has aged well. Licorice notes, warm soil. This is a dandy! My last bottle and I was glad that I didn’t hold for too long.
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A Charity event plus two days of birthday celebration; a memorable three day weekend.; 10/13/2023-10/15/2023 (Samish Hill, Bellingham, WA): This is our "anniversary wine", and we've opened one each year in August to celebrate. Two months ago on our anniversary, the bottle was delicious but seemed advanced, so I used this opportunity to open another to see if the last had been a one-off. The 1959 Barolo and the 2010 Produttori were not worthy of the Japanese Grade 5 Waygu steaks I'd seared, so I quickly splash decanted this. It was fantastic, much better than the bottle in August. Powerful on the nose; it was like walking into a cigar and pipe tobacco humidor. Smoky dark red fruit and licorice on the nose and palate. Intense attack persists into a long finish. This showed very well; a triumph in St. Estèphe in 1996.
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This was literally about as close to perfection as I have tasted in nearly a decade. Upon opening, there is just a density and concentration of secondary aroma. Is that carry this wine along. While you could tell that the fruit initially was ripe and dense as well, it is fully realized now with a dark, damp soil, Luxardo cherry syrup dipped cigars and sweet leather. The wine has a core of rich black fruit and a hint of bell pepper. Opened and decanted but drank over 2 hours with Pasta Pomodoro. I wish I had 5 more bottles.
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Green leafy nose soon turned into an aged and classical Bordeaux magic of tobacco with hints of graphite.
Bottle breathed for 5 hours, nice full body and softening tannins, but lively too. Thanks Eng for kindly sharing this on his birthday with WMK, Eng and me at Senses over yet another divine dinner here.
Great preparation and Eng showed both patience as well as restraint in bottle breathing this at 3pm. We only started trying this at about 9pm, and it was in such a good place.
1996 is described as a Bordeaux vintage which celebrates Cab (Cabernet Sauvignon),and this Saint Estephe appelation must be one of the stars.
Classical ceppage of 65% Cab, 25% Merlot, 7% Cab Franc and 3% PV.
Why the heart on the logo? Marquis de Segur famously had ownership of numerous top Bordeaux estates of the day but (he also owned Lafite and Latour) de Segur is credited with uttering the words that spawned the idea behind the heart-shaped logo of Calon Segur.. “I make my wine at Lafite and Latour, but my heart is in Calon.” ❤️
Softening mouthfeel with lively fruit and yet the secondary and tertiary nuances were coming through on the complex layers at the same time.
Wonderful aged Bordeaux from a stellar vintage. I knew this was a Left Bank, but underguessed the vintage thinking it mat have been mid 2000s. A wonderful claret!
This is truly one of the Top 3 Saint Estephes I have ever had. Helps that this has 27 years of cellaring time. It could go on another 5 or even 10 years!
16th Sep 2023 La Sense at Farm to Plate, Damansara Kim, Malaysia
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Medium garnet in colour. Pronounced nose intensity with notes of tobacco, smoke, sandal wood, charr wood, cedar, leather, wet forest, cooked black fruits. On the palate, acidity is medium and medium tannin. Full bodied with pronounced intensity flavour. Decant in the bottle for 3 hour.
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Sweet rose petals on the nose and palate, alongside tertiary leather, cedar and red fruits. Delicious! The structure is soft but there is enough tannin and freshness to provide lift and interest. Medium weight. Long and complex. Fully mature and drinking perfectly now. Will last for another decade at least.
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We’ve drunk this wine on our anniversary annually since release. I have almost two cases left to allow celebrations into our nineties. The wine showed full maturity. It was delicious but essentially all tertiary. Humidor; pipe tobacco and cedar, licorice. Great mouthfeel, tannins less coarse than in the past, mostly resolved. Delicious, but if this bottle is any indication, our love will far outlast the wine.
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Un nez très végétal qui m'amène en Cabernet-Franc, le vin est hyper délicat et élégant. beau fruit mure frais, longueur respectable. Un Bordeaux mature à point et totalement délicieux.
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Medium garnet in colour. Pronounced nose intensity with notes of tobacco, smoke, sandal wood, charr wood, cedar, leather, wet forest, cooked black fruits. Mostly secondary and tertiary notes. On the palate, acidity is medium and medium tannin. Full bodied with pronounced intensity flavour. Decant for 1 hour. Not sure if this wine will improve further with ageing, but it’s already drinking well now.
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Easily the best bottle I've ever tasted of this wine. In perfect shape, loads of ripe red and black fruit with solid structure and resolving tannins. Long. Very satisfying. I'd drink these now but I think they'll age for 20+ more years.
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How did we keep putting this back so many times before finally opening it?? Notes in comparison to the 85 GL, seems to be incomplete, might have accidentally deleted some of it (sorry if you read this Salil)
Also white pepper, but less. A little more rich. Dark, dark chocolate, graphite, cedar, leather, tobacco, sour cherry,
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Decanted for four hours before serving. The wine is fully mature at this point. Aromas of green bell pepper were dominant at first, but gave way to leather, sphagnum, damp earth, and a hint of licorice. Medium bodied and still bracingly acidic, the palate is tart blackberry and earth, with the slightest bit of tannin hanging in there, and a long, spicy finish.
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In a great place right now. A truly beautiful wine. Everything a well-made, aged Bordeaux should be Opened about 5 hours before drinking and then decanted an hour or so, which was just right. Served with a dry aged standing rib roast on Christmas Day. Life is good!
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Superb! Bottles like this is why I drink aged Bordeaux and makes waiting worth it.
Deep garnet colour with just a tinge of amber around the edge. Aromas of dark fruits, tobacco leaf, and warm wood were enchanting yet subtle. No decanting was done and first sip was nearly perfect with the oak being a bit more pronounced than what I would have liked. Thirty minutes in the glass and everything came together. Deep, rich fruits of cassis and blackberries combined so elegantly with warm cedar-box and sous-bois. Excellent medium-bodied structure was sturdy and elegant at the same time. Rich oily coating on the tongue left a long lasting finish.
Not sure how much more it could improve but this has all the elements needed to last another decade or so. No need to open it now but no need to wait either. This bottle will get placed on my wall of fame.
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Notes of tar, cigar box, plum, smoke, forest floor. Beautifully integrated tannins, smooth finish and medium body. Lovely wine. Not sure about 10-20 years of life left but we loved it this evening.
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This is a real joy! Perfectly mature and ready to go. This is a dancer, not a boxer. Perfumed, elegant, red fruits more than black. Complex tertiary notes of leather and subtle oak, cedar and spice. Beautiful balance of primary and tertiary. The structure has softened to an elegant mid weight and moderate structure beauty. Still enough grip to provide interest. Long and complex. Drink now and I think this will perform well over the the next 5 to 10 years.
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Deep Garnet that appears cloudy. An intense black currant leaf on the nose gives up some redcurrant and underbrush. A marked acidity on the attack, the fruit just manages to balance with ripe bright berries, more red-orientated than black. A very grippy texture that morphs into a coarse, burly tannin. Whilst the wine has a muscular feel, it feels a little underripe, similar to a feel of dissolved CO2.
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Nice earthy dark aromas, but palate shows structure dominating the fruit. While highly drinkable and offers some nice complexity the wine is firm and somewhat drying at this stage.
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Wonderful nose, dark and masculine, forest floor, really in the best of Nothern Medoc (St.Estephe/Pauillac) style. Tannins fully resolved. Mid weight and precise. Perfect wine for a meat dish.
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I've opened one of these annually for our anniversary since 2003. This was by far the densest, compared to previous bottles. Cigar box and leather dominate the smoky dark red fruit and licorice. Intense attack persists into a long finish. Great wine. A blast from the past, I see it was purchased from WineCommune.
Outstanding showing. Popped to check for flaws, set aside for 30 minutes and then consumed over two hours. Fragrant and classic Bordeaux nose with loads of cedar, tobacco, and underbrush. Fully mature on the palate with earthy and loamy flavors and just a hint of dark fruit. The texture is incredibly soft and smooth with not a hint of tannin. Drink now for a mature showing.
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Medium ruby color with zero color degradation. Smoky red and black fruits on the nose. Tasty blended fruits with no one note standing out; the overall melange is delicious.
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This was quite good although not sure any better than the bottle drunk in 2017 as age starts to sap some of the fruit and vibrancy....still very good and in a perfect spot. I don't think this gets better and I enjoyed this over 2 nights without a decant. $55 very well spent
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Impeccable bottle and cork. 3 hour slo-ox, decant and pour. Dark color without browning. Beguiling nose of dark fruit, berries, oak, vanilla and cedar, spices, mint, secondary and teriary notes. Medium to full bodied, balanced with sweet tannins muted but still present. Smooth mouthfeel. More of the nose on the palatte. Long, long finish. What an enjoyable well aged Bordeaux for Valentines Day. A heart for the heart.
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Opens over a couple of hours. Really classic L Bank notes of incense lead pencil and dark currant...good finish...medium body. A third of the bottle frozen and defrosted....beautiful dark fruits and smooth and long finish... upgraded to 94.
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Tasted blind. Decanted one hour before drinking. This was just tremendous. At first some greenness on the nose which made me think right bank, but the sous bois and black fruit were so well put together. Silky, open up nicely in the glass and was just a textbook Claret. Really at its peak right now.
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One of our last 1996s ... One of the greatest pleasures for me of aging wine is the nostalgia elicited by opening up bottles from various times in your life. I first got serious about wine late in 1999, the year I bought this wine along with a bunch of other 95 and 96 Left bank Bordeaux. I was a poor grad student, and it was a big deal at the time to buy wines like Calon Segur, the Leovilles and Pichons etc. It has been interesting to see how wines like these change with age, and change they do. Decanted for an hour or so: This had lovely mature Bordeaux notes of brandied dark cherries, blackcurrants, spices like clove and a hint of cinnamon, lactic-sour milk notes, and a noteworthy bit of green bell pepper, but to a degree that I liked. While this could age another few years easily and perhaps improve a little, I say drink this up in the near term. Sadly it was our last bottle. Ahh, life.
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Pronoucned nose intensity with nose of cooked black currant, black cherry, toast, earth, mushroom, fig, prune. Medium+ acidity and medium tannin. Medium bodied and long finish.
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Nose: Plum, berry, leather, tobacco and graphite. Fruit is just a bit on the soft side, but not overripe. Palate: classic palate with slightly cooked blackberry and plum, graphite, spices, and a garden vegetable note. Quite seamless and resolved. Finish: a bit unfocused at the end, but great persistence in the dark berries and graphite.
Solid performance, but it was outclassed by the Lynch that we had alongside tonight.
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Better on the nose, with its secondary tobacco, cedar, underbrush, herb, and bright red berry nose, than on the medium-bodied, firm, lean, tannic, crunchy, crisp palate.
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Wonderful nose and seriously complex palate. Decanted an hour before drinking and consumed over two hour dinner. I’ve had many bottles of this wine and it has remained consistently good. At its plateau but not hurry to consume in my view
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Nydelig og klassisk Bordeaux-duft med kraftig seder, blyantspiss, tobakk, og sviskete rødbærsfrukt. Blitt ganske så silkemyk, mangler kanskje litt fokus i munn men det er tilgitt.
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Drank side by side with a '94 Togni. Always interesting to see old Calis that definitely have the old world influence next to actual old world wines. This was drinking great. Somm had mentioned a slightly cooler vintage which brings out more of the red fruits and the green. That's there. It's a restrained style of wine and at first it felt a bit flat to me with how much life was still in the Togni, but it just needed some time to open in the glass. Really enjoyable.
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Pronounced nose with notes of mushroom, spices, cinnamon, black fruits, leather. Medium+ acidity and tannin. Decanted 2 hours. On the palate still having green note and grippy tannin. Ex Chateau, bottle condition and provenance is excellent. Drank during Assemblage 2020 dinner.
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I've opened one of these annually for our anniversary since 2003, and this was the best by far. Double decanted several hours before serving. The grapes for this bottle must have been slipped some steroids! The nose and palate were dense with licorice, pipe tobacco and leather. Its dense tannins have finally been tamed. The wine somehow straddled a complete lack of subtlety with careless elegance. I'd guess this has entered a long apogee. I'm happy to have many more.
Garnet. Nose of dried herbs and tertiary flavors of spices, hint of black cherry. Taste similar. Overall, very good. Has slight tannins at end, suggesting if cellared well can age a while longer
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Cork Vault August Bottle Share--78 Giacosa Riserva, 85 Certan De May, 96 Calon-Segur and more (Charlotte, NC): 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot Slo-oxed but probably could have used a decant because the wine didn’t fully express itself for ~90 minutes but when it did it was beautiful. Fragrant nose of cedar, tobacco and leather. Well structured wine with finesse. Aged black cherry and currant flavors with fully integrated tannins allowing for an exceedingly pleasurable drinking experience. Nice medium-length finish. Right in its drinking window and singing given enough time to open up.
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This is one of my favorite wines and I'm on my third case This wine usually flies out of the gate with fireworks on the nose But not this bottle, which started rather closed But after an hour, it finally opened up with sweet ripe fruits on the nose, and a whiff of brett. On the palate it gives layers of ripe fruits, peppers, leather, spice. A wonderful wine with a long persistent finish
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The nose is amazing with wet forest floor and enough pencil shavings . The wine palate is elegant with dark fruit and pencil is recapitulate the palate with a good amount of acid structure. It’s in a great place and has more time, but it’s amazing now
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Clean and pure nose with inky scents, the wine is fully resolved, seamless from front to rear palate lending this consistent silky and satiny character, the flauvors include a lovely mixture of ink, pencil shavings, cedar and tiny hints of Creme Brûlée, good fresh acidity and ripe tannins which are in the right place. This is an utterly charming delicate beauty, which is in a perfect place now.
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Served along with a 2003 Calon and a 90 Bon Pasteur. Green pepper, plum, cedar and leather on the nose. Still lean and a touch green - Dark fruit, herbs and tobacco with a decent finish. Not as good as the 2003. 91 points
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In my opinion, this is fully mature. Tannins are resolved, still has ripe fruit, showing Asian spices and espresso. Beautiful lingering finish. Showed much better than a 1996 Talbot.
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Decanted and followed over a few hours. Decent, but not great. There is a green note on the nose that dominates and is a bit off-putting. The palate is fine, though still not what I was hoping for. Perhaps an off bottle, but it looked great and was purchased from a reliable source.
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To my taste buds an aged Bordeaux is a beautiful thing and this wine did not disappoint. Opened about two and a half hours prior to dinner. There was dark fruit on the nose. The palate was dark berries, tree bark and coffee. The coffee flavors dominate the long finish. I really enjoyed this wine.
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Decanted one hour. Gorgeous, full-bodied mature claret with earth, anise, burnt espresso. This bottle is perhaps a tiny bit oxidized with some bitterness on the finish, but otherwise enjoyable.
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Med+ aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, cedar, tobacco and leather. The wine is fully developed.
Dry, med+ acidity, med tannin, med alcohol, med+ body, med+ flavors of blackcurrant, tobacco and leather. Med+ finish.
Outstanding wine. Can drink now but has potential for further aging. Nicely balanced wine with the primary and tertiary flavors, acidity and tannins integrated.
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Wonderful. This still has a great life ahead and will drink well for at least 5 more years. Medium ruby colour, hint of black currant, forest floor, leather.
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Another fun bottle of ‘96 Calon Segur. We’ve been opening a bottle nearly every year since release. This was the most advanced of any bottle we’ve opened. The tannins, which just a few years ago were still impenetrable, are fully resolved. There was a great melange of currant, leather, licorice, five spice. Delicious with Flannery tenderloin seared in cast iron.
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Similar to my last note, but the intensity on this bottle had faded slightly. Still a very focused wine, but each flavour element lacked that bit of punch the previous bottle had. We didn't decant as long, which perhaps was a contributing factor. Classic claret with a stunning structure.
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Drinking really nicely here but needed decanting and about 45 minutes of airtime. Early on it showed a little great and with perhaps a bit of bret. The green blew off and the bret became integrated. Most interesting to me is that while this wine is showing some particularation, we don’t see strong bricking yet. The edge is still ruby with no real straw characteristics. Seems like it’s setting up for a nice maturation.
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Stay at Home dinner, Valerie made a rosemary chicken with potatoes. Thought to check in on this one , its been a few years. Splash decant, drank over 2 hours.
Medium garnet color, slight separation at the rim. Nose showing red currant, herbs, graphite, minerals and violets...a lot going on and very Bdx. Nose evolved a bit over first 20 minutes, but was very expressive right out of the bottle. Palate of faded black cherry, tobacco, leather. Smooth texture, tannins softened. Medium body and finish, nice nuance through mid and back palate.
In a great spot, not a heralded vintage so I went in with modest expectations. Classic Bdx notes of graphite/floral on the nose were pronounced with this bottle (a good thing for me...). Outperformed expectations and while not seeming to be fading I don't think there is reason to wait. Well stored bottles should drink at this level for several more years but not likely to improve much more.
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Tasted beside the 1995 with Coravin. Med garnet colour, stewed black fruit, chocolate and pronounced leather on nose and palate, integrated very soft tannins, med long length finish with leather carrying longest. Excellent wine, better than the 1995.
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8th of 12 and I would not expect to improve any further. Initially reticent but fruit did emerge with a lot of swirling. Still a great match for roast beef. One to drink up.
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Garnet color, clean nose, leather, spices, dark berries,well integrated tannins, very appealing palate, taste lingers on, god finish, keeps getting better as I continue,
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Had this with beef wellington. Plenty of body but not much fruit or lift. Was followed by a 96 Angelus which was on a complete different level. Can’t see this improving - no rush but one to drink up.
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This is in a great place now and ready to go with limited decanting, with a musky nose and savory notes including dill on the finish. Fruit is still there and tannins still present. Paired nicely with a Flannery Beef Dry Aged NY strip. Noticed a bit more fruit on Day 2.
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Needs a short decant, 20mins or so but not very long, to release it and then just sit back and enjoy the ride. Much like many of the mid level 1996 left bank this is now a true joy for lovers of classic and well aged Bordeaux. This true to its St Estephe terroir is a touch leaner, mineral but also soft and silky, not as juicy as a St Julien 96 of course but a different tune of the great 1996 melody. The nose we must praise as it is truly exceptional and albeit a touch dusty at the end it’s just a aroma to go back over and over again. Soft, earthy, leather, floral and soft herby. Such a beautiful wine. 92
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Definitely seen better days. The fruit is gone, just an earthiness, tobacco, leather, cedar and some spices left. Still a drying dusty tannin mouthfeel (although mild). Medium minus acidity. Nice overall depth to the body still. Bitterness in the form of black tea.
Tasted one year on - classic claret, great food wine. Probably plateau'd - not sure it gets much better from here, though may do so on the nose. Enjoy!
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A fair bit of bottle variation here. Excellent cork barely stained beyond the very tip. Poured into decanter and drank over 2h or so. This was nowhere near the last bottle. Dominated by musty notes of forest floor and a fair bit of green too. Fresh yes, but obviously not a great bottle of Bdx today
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Dark core, light ruby rim. Graphite, violet, chocolate, herbs and leather. Very focus. Good delineation, layers, complex, grippy tannin and very fine, lingering with superb persistence. Very Long, with dark chocolate, a very good bottle.
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Lunch at Windsor Arms. Mid light ruby. Some sediment noted. Cork is about 40% saturated. Tannins well resolved, wine is soft and round. Good structure. Nice concentrated fruit, some soy notes, put on weight with more time in the decanter and glass. Has aged very well, no signs of fading. Yet another fine example of the lauded 1996 vintage from Bordeaux - so far I have yet to be disappointed.
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Wonderful tertiary nose with forest floor, farmyard and dark fruit. Medium- density palate, great with food, masculine tannins that are well resolved for a St.Estephe. Excellent food wine.
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- Garnet color with a long finish - Drank at Denis scotch tasting dinner to celebrate Matts 20 years at IBM. Was lovely pure intense smoky graphite fruit was buried below. Great length.
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Last bottle was so good I couldn't resist opening another. This one was even better - the same clean, fresh dark fruit but coming through more intensely, and with a mineral and dusty earthy character that was more prominent than I remembered. This is in such a great place right now, one to drink and hold.
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As classic and old-school as it gets. Love the aromatics here - a core of fresh black fruit framed by graphite, cedar wood, tobacco, and a bright green herbal/pyrazine note that adds complexity without detracting or overwhelming the other flavours. There's a sense of restraint here - the flavours take some time to emerge, needing an hour or so in the decanter, but the overall balance is fantastic and I'm glad I bought a case of this.
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Cellared since release. Level well into neck, sound cork. Promising deep garnet color, no bricking. Bouquet similarly promising: ripe red fruits, cured tobacco, cedar, tertiary aromas from age. Looks like Bordeaux, smells like Bordeaux!
Palate is nearly a Xerox of the nose, with fruit, empty cedar cigar box, maybe some faint toasted nut, enough acidity to keep it fresh. Ample “grip” to quote the English. Fruit on the finish, which is medium-long.
Many 1996 Bordeaux were stubborn agers, and I had doubts at times. But the majority made it, and bottles in this condition are probably good for another 5+ years, though they won’t improve, IMO.
This is 12.5% abv, reflecting its era. If anything, it shows that (with a lot of time, anyway), high alcohol is not necessary for high quality or high pleasure. Personally, I could sit around and drink this for hours and remember what is special about Bordeaux.
Decanted for 30 minutes. Initial impressions were a muted nose and strawberries and pepper on the palate. Let warm up from cellar temperature and breathe about another 30 minutes. More notes of aged Bordeaux on the nose. Tobacco and subtle red fruit on the palate. Wine continues to open as night progresses. In a great place, but I think it will age further without issue. Very enjoyable!
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Saturated red. Initially very tight but opened well over the course of 24 hours. Black cherry, leather, mint and tobacco. gripping tannins. Great cabernet character. Drank at a busy gathering at home so was not the perfect place to reflect but seems like it is in a good place now with a decant.
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From my friend’s cellar, paired with flank steak. Marvelous bouquet, herbaceous with black fruit. Well balanced, seems to be in a great spot. Could certainly age longer but drinking great now.
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Much better than the last bottle we had. Still very young and I'd say a bit tight. Calon Segur though is quickly becoming a favorite in Bordeaux for me. Always punches above it's weight. This was also a bit tight, but can tell there's still lots of fruit and more cigar notes underneath. Enjoyable.
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Brick red. Nose is really so elegant, has notes of coffee and just a whiff of vanilla. Mouthfeel is perhaps a little lighter than expected, but also more elegant than I would ever expect in Saint-Estèphe.
This is totally amazing and is really in it's perfect spot right now! But will probably also last very well for quite a few years more.
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In a nice spot right now. Super mellow, but with enough edge to last at least 5 more years. Still a bit of fruit but the terroir was fading a bit. Super enjoyable
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Awesome Calon. Still very young and dark in the glass. Needs a few hours to soften but has a fantastic nose. Mint (bordering on medicinal) flint, and smoke are all there. Palate is dense, still fruity, with mostly cab secondary character. Lengthy finish. In its early drinking period but may still have some upside. Tannins still rather coarse and prominent.
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Nose at first is a touch reticent, but slowly opens to reveal dusty earth, red fruits. Light/medium bodied, earthy red fruit, firmish but fine tannic backbone, quite lean but attractive in an old school way, vibrant acidity, good length grippy finish.
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Pnp. Bottle in good shape with bottom neck fill. Much better showing than the “cold cellar” bottle I had a year ago. Simply wonderful with steak at home - if you had to request for a "last meal", what else could you possibly want... Beautiful nose with dark fruits, animal notes, cedar and a slight green touch. Mid bodied on the palate, dry and classic, some leather, integrated tannins. Wow - at peak in my eyes from a “normal” cellar. No need to wait any longer, as the cedar notes, which are beautiful now, will become more prominent when the fruit starts to fade...
Dark earthy fruit peppered with graphite, coffee, and tobacco leaf. Mineral depth, pleasantly firm tannins, and wonderful balance. Robust, classic claret that shows creaminess and structure and is drinking beautifully now and will go for ages, though I don't suspect massive improvement. Needs at least a 90 min decant.
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96/82 pairing. Cleary, and appropriately, the more youthful and primary of the two wines. I probably would have loved this on it's own, but in the flight it lacked the nuance and complexity of the '82. Give it time. Classic flavor profile and terrific balance of fruit and structure. Better 2024+
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Dinner at PST (Chicago, IL): This is a great bottle of Bordeaux, but it was just overshadowed by the greater bottle of 1982 next to it. The nose is pure, unadulterated green pyrazine, followed by more subtle expressions of the classic Bordelais elements -- a slight bit of leather, some dried fruits, and a really pleasant dustiness. Lots of acidity here, this is a very structural wine that doesn't seem anywhere close to resolution.
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On the nose, there is black cherry, florals, animal, and tobacco. The palate is bright with cherry, minerals, and tobacco. Tannins are soft, and there is a lingering finish. This is the second 1996 Left Bank that I opened within the past couple of months, and both are drinking well now.
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Thought this was surprisingly evolved. Funky leather on the nose, benefits from decanting still. Not insignificant bricking. Fresh in the mouth but don't go looking for fruit here. If my bottle was representative, drink up.
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Very dark garnet red. Decanted for 90 minutes and open for 2 hours before drinking. Drank 2 glasses over an hour plus. Love the nose, funk, damp, perfumed, lots of French oak tones, graphite and dark fruits. The palate is full bodied, layered, lots of graphite, cassis, wood, good length, round tannins that are softened. Needs the time, getting better in glass. 91+ to 92pts.
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6th of 12. This one had lost most of its fruit, surprisingly so. Very pencil, graphite, not much leather or tobacco either. Will put this down to the bottle and not rushing the others yet.
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Good but not super-sensational... we drank this alongside a 2006 Batailley and, to be honest, we probably preferred the Batailley's (relatively) youthful vigour.
This did develop in the glass tho and was really quite fine, complex and tertiary, but perhaps a bit muted.
I'm curiously looking forward to tasting my next bottle of this...
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1hr decant, took another hour to open, went with raist chicken and harissa carrots alot better than on its own. I don't think this is built for too many more years
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Sublime. Really powerful nose - classic developed Bordeaux with some primary fruit wafting through (no need to stick your nose in the glass as it oozes out, filling the air around). Same in the mouth - this wine is well and truly in that gorgeous sweet spot where the sweet primary fruit marries with the more savoury developed characters. Long finish with just the tiniest hint of grip - overall, the wine is very smooth, the tannins nicely resolved.
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Un Saint Estephe tannique comme il se doit et encore assez jeune. La maturité n’est pas son point fort et le fruité est en retrait mais en revanche il se montre concentré et capable de vieillir encore. Un style un peu brut.
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Q4 - 2018 Tasting - Aged Bordeaux (Pre-1997) (New York, NY): 13 of 19 wines tasted double blind. The nose on this one was straight up musty cardboard boxes in the basement. I actually couldn't get past the nose to even taste it. Many others did not think this was corked, just old - so I maybe in the minority here. However it was the only wine that did not receive any votes. Group vote - 0 pennies
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Q4 Wine Club - Aged Bordeaux (Our apt): Wine #13: This very easily could have been flawed as well although the group was a bit split on that. It was certainly much tighter than I would have expected and I found it almost flavorless. For others they got some cardboard in it. Regardless it was not a well loved wine being one of the only no-votes we've had in awhile. (0 pennies)
Still plenty of structure for its age. Nice fragrant nose of cigar, leather and a hint of greens. Opened up nicely over 4 hours with some aeration. Medium body with dark chocolate and hints of cigar & greens on the palate and good finish. Very enjoyable, but did not evolve as much in the glass as I’d hope, particularly the mid-palate.
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We've opened one of these on our anniversary for over a decade. Each subsequent bottle seems to improve as the years pass. This was no exception, and we opened it last night with friends two weeks past the anniversary date. I double decanted for sediment and quickly recorked 4 hours before serving. In retrospect, it could have used more air, as it improved with time in the glass. Initially, the reticent nose showed currant, tobacco, licorice, wet leather and moist rich soil. It opened up after quite a bit after thirty minutes or so. The previously firm tannins have really integrated. Medium bodied; the palate was a bit of a beast in the past, but is now more elegant, supple and subtle. I'm happy to have enough of these to open on our anniversary for decades.
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Bordeaux Wine Dinner (Wine Kitchen, SF): Cork removed with Durand easily. Aromatic, mature black fruit, leafy mulch; balanced medium bodied, medium-plus acid, integrated tannins, a tad thin right now through the midpalate; medium finish. Very respectable, ready to drink now, but doesn’t blow me away. 91 With air, really nice and good complexity. This holds up well, ready now but with decades left. 92-94
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A very nice aged Bdx. Hints of floral and earth notes on the nose. Red fruit primary on palate, but a lot of subtle flavors that come and go throughout the night. Rested an hour before service but continued to developed over the next few. Smoke, cedar, pine, boysenberry.
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Subtle herbs, with a hint of spearmint on the nose. This is tight and lean, even with a 2 hour decant, thyme and sorrel and cherry pits. Medium finish, without additional complexity. I wont open a bottle for 3 years.
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Pop and pour. Nice color: ruby with slight orange rim, minimal sediment (thanks Papie for the feedback). Initially a musty nose but blew off to reveal a really pleasant aroma that reminded me of walking in a forest in the early morning (damp earth, wet leaves). Evolved slightly during dinner and was best about 30 minutes in. Red fruited with tobacco notes. Classic Bordeaux from what I've read and my limited experience. To my taste a good balance of maturity but still retaining fruit. Even better than the 1982 La Lagune that I enjoyed 6 months ago.
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PnP. Ruby color with some bricking. Intoxicating nose, earthy/slight maple note. Palate deep, a nice herbal/green pepper note with tobacco, great acidity. Wonderful, fully mature to my taste but going strong and no sign of fading to me at least. one of my WOTNs. Thanks Vietty. 94 pts
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Decanted and served. Beautiful wine especially if like us one loves aged , old school bdx and 1996 remains a top vintage for us, almost one we buy blind. And this C-S was no exception. We had this 6 yrs ago (Papies 91) and this has since evolved superbly. Well secondary, earthy, tobacco and cedar on the nose. Herby for sure but with healthy fruit on the palate and softer, silky tannin. Very pretty now and we do think this is now at peak. Solid 92-93. Must buy more.
Appearance: Bright and clear, medium ruby in color, with garnet rims and legs. Nose: Clean, with medium (+) intensity aromas of black fruit of blackcurrant and blackberry, maturity notes of mushroom, mineral notes of earth, kernel notes of chocolate, pungent spice of tobacco leaf, oak notes of cedar, animal notes of leather. The wine is developing. Palate: Dry with medium acidity, medium tannin of ripe and fully-integrated texture, the wine has medium alcohol, medium body and medium (+) intensity flavors of black fruit of blackcurrant and blackberry, oak notes of cedar, animal notes of leather, maturity notes of tobacco. The wine has a medium finish. Conclusion: Very good quality St-Estephe with good intensity and a rather complex nose, showing good development but still plenty of fruit and mineral, the wine has good structure, vibrancy and the tannin is seamlessly integrated with good concentration on palate as well as a reasonable length on the finish. It is ready to drink now and can maintain for another 3-5 years.
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Very elegant and Classic red bdx. Loads of cassis, wet leaves, leadpencil on the nose. On the palate medium+ bodied, great balance and length with smooth tannin and with some air, fantastic cabernet fruit. Very nice!
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This continues a winning thread of 1996 Bordeaux tasted over the past six months. Pure, classic and satisfying in every sense. The fruit has sweetened, the structure is supporting without being noticeable - a complete wine. Probably the best Calon Segur I have ever tasted. (95)
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Subtle but beguiling and classic nose (mushrooms, must, rich earth); on the palate still somewhat youthful and tannins not yet fully resolved. Overall, certainly enjoyable but it seems it has not quite peaked yet.
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Bottle from cold cellar with excellent in neck fill. Garnet with slight browning towards translucent rim. Initially closed this needs a good hour in the decanter to open up. A fairly austere wine (well, this is St. Estephe) with dark fruit, leather and tobacco notes and a fair bit of cedar held in check by dusty medium (-) tannins. Short to medium finish. I actually do enjoy this style of traditional claret but I can get this kind of experience with a good '88 or '94 left banker. For a fairly young 3rd growth from a very good vintage like 1996, I find the lack of fruit concentration, which reveals those prominent cedar notes and the dusty tannins rather disappointing.
PS: Wife scolded me for opening such a wine on a Friday evening...
Consumed on a Saturday night with grilled filet mignon (and Béarnaise) and Brussels sprouts. Fun to drink this one long and slow and track its evolution in the glass. Started with funk/must, followed by a strong nose and taste of menthol, with a subtle tinge of citrus fruit. The menthol evolved into beautiful sweet tobacco notes reminiscent of the wonderful smell of a fresh pack of Dunhills after ripping off the foil (RIP my days of burning heaters). Tobacco notes persisted for a long time. Once the wine really opened up, a beautiful core of red fruit emerged, complemented by beautiful leather, earth, fruitcake/baking spices,and some subtle oak/vanilla. Finished its evolution with a long phase of pure, dusty, palate-coating cinnamon that left me wanting more. A lovely wine that is just beautiful now but could stay in the cellar for years hence. Buy more!
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Very distinctive nose of bell pepper and smoke that is mirrored on the palate. I love the savory complexity! This is beginning to fade so I would consume it over the next couple years.
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brick with slight tinges of orange on the rim - classic old Bordeaux nose of leather, tobacco and cassis - beautifully balanced mouth with just the right amount of residual tannins - very nice long finish - consistent with my last notes, I think this wine is drinking at its peak right now - much more developed than the 96 Montrose that we had at the same time - enjoy Calon now, hold Montrose
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This took several hours to open up, initially quite closed. Minerals, espresso and green peppers on the nose. Earth with root vegetable flavors, dark black cherry fruit, evolving but not mature tannins. More approachable than my last bottle years ago.
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At peak: remarkably sensual and beguiling for a St.Estephe, with layers of blackberry, blackcurrant and sweet notes of red cherry which unfold before a long, lingering finish. It should hold for several more years. With the 88 thi is one of the best Calons I've tasted.
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Belated birthday session for Davyd. Tasted blind. Poured from bottle over 2 hours. Appearance is clear, medium intensity, ruby colour. Thin legs. Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of green bell peppers, green chilli, blackcurrant, blackcurrant leaf, earth, licorice, sweet blackberries. Developed. On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium alcohol (12.5%), integrated medium+ tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of green bell peppers, sweet blackberries, blackcurrant, cool menthol, chalky minerality, slight licorice. Long finish. Very good quality. I was guessing old school New World Bordeaux blend Cab dominant about mid 90s. Certainly shows a good vintage Left Bank Bordeaux. Still can last another 2-3 years. But certainly at peak and time to drink and enjoy.
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Wines with the HDH Auction: Wow, such a great and compelling nose of plums, cigar ash, smoke and some earthy funk notes. Yum, really good sweet plum fruit on entry. A little stern and tannic on the mid-palate with some iron notes coming on strong. Upside from here after 5 years.
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HDH auction tasting at Spiaggia; 12/14/2017-12/16/2017 (Chicago, IL): A fairly dense and taut Bordeaux, with a nose that shows lots of ashy character. Tobacco? There are some of the usual black fruits on the nose as well. The palate is very classically structured, with a nice bit of herbaceousness as well as fruit. It's got a generous portion of earth as well. This is a bit more austere and structural than the Pichon Baron that we had as well.
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Medium ruby color. Delicious nose of musty cellar and red raspberry. As it opens, dusty (slightly sweet) cherry notes with solid tannins develop. The end palate to finish showcases a strong bitter orange zest note at the finish. Still drinking quite well with no sign of fade.
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PNP...gorgeous mature Bdx, still vibrant fruit and tannis resolved.....pleasantly surprised at how forward and not at all overly dry or earthy. Really well balanced
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This bottle was very primary and tight. Plenty of red and dark fruit and nice purity, but lacked complexity and was a bit harsh. Has potential to be very good, but needs time.
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Clear medium ruby with a garnet tint, with a medium almost clear rim. Pronounced Caramelized wet leaves, Green chilly Pepper. Developing. Medium+ sour plum, green chilly pepper and a delicate hint of grape seed and cedar/sawdust like sweet woodiness. Long medium+ dark bitter chocolate and with a hint of sweet dried wood aftertaste. Dry, High acidity, medium+ ripe but still grippy tannin, medium alcohol, medium body. Good balance between the acidity and fruit, good length, good intensity, good complexity. Can drink now, and can be aged for 3-5 more years.
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brick with tinges of orange on the rim - classic old Bordeaux nose of leather, tobacco and cassis - beautifully balanced mouth with just the right amount of residual tannins - nice long finish - perfect with grilled lamb chops - this wine along with the 96 Montrose and the 96 Pichon Lalande have changed my opinion of the 96s from just a good vintage to a great vintage that is drinking at its peak right now
92-93 Old Bordeaux nose, green pepper, pencil lead, earthy, not much fruit left. Palate was refined with well integrated and resolved tannin. Drinking great at 21 yrs old.
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dark red with brick edge - bright red fruit nose with cedar and lead capsule overtones (could have mistaken this for a Graves) - bright up-front acidity, tannins mostly resolved but still nicely in presence - medium body but nice long finish - for those who appreciate old Bordeaux, this is drinking beautifully now - should hold for many more years, but not sure it's likely to develop that much more than this
Gave this one a two-hour decant and absolutely loved it. Leather, orange peel, white pepper, black fruit, toasted oak. Perfectly aged. I haven't had much St.-Estephe but I will be having more.
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Was nervous about this one. Opened up over two hours to reveal a delightful funk. Thoroughly enjoyed. Tasted side by side with a 1996 Dominus and the difference was striking. The Calon Segur was elegant and revealed itself slowly while the Dominus was big and powerful and quite delicious. Wish I had more!
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The wine is deep garnet in colour. The nose is clean with pronounced complex aromas of dried fruit, cedar, tobacco, undergrowth, animal. A real bouquet, fully developed. Dry, fresh medium (+) acidity, fine, chalky medium (-) tannins, medium alcohol, medium body, pronounced, complex flavours similar to the nose, long finish. Outstanding, mature claret, drinking beautifully now. Beautiful balance between fruit, tannins, acidity and alcohol. Great complexity and concentration, long, long finish. This won't get any better and although it is unlikely to decline rapidly, I wouldn't wait too long before drinking up. The aromas and flavours are now all tertiary and may start to fade.
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HDH Magnum Dinner (Del Frisco - Chicago IL): Magnum. all black fruit with spice hints and very good concentration. Moderate length with good+ overall balance. I think was put at a disadvantage having Dunn 1995 in the flight.
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1990s Bordeaux wines tasting (at my home): dark translucent red-brown quality ripe dark fruits nose with smoked meat and tobacco notes , truffles hints medium bodied, soft firm tannins, well balanced and harmonised, good structure and complexity, tobacco, earth, truffles, long finish and enjoyable aftertaste
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Very good on PnP, but certainly improved with some aeration. Deep, dark ruby color. An earthy nose of sweet black fruits, olive tampenade, barnyard, anise, leather, and dark chocolate. Dark and brooding on the palate, but quite lively. Really had an earthy streak to it. The structure is sound, with firm tannins. Medium level of acidity. Good length on the finish, with just a hint of bitterness. Should have several years left of good drinking, and I expect this to improve. Not yet at its peak of maturation.
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Elegant and fragrant bouquet of cigar box, cedar, leather, stony black fruits and dry herbs with a touch of toasty bell pepper. Very mysterious and refined. Palate echoed the nose with flint and graphite notes from entry to finish which is rounded with ripe tannins and 30 secs finish. Med-bodied with balanced in structure. Mid-palate is somewhat flat initially but after an hour in the decanter, mineral and black fruits emerged to fill in the gap.
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Nose of red currant and tobacco with a hint of sweet cola. Palate has layers of currant, red leather, and gravel. Gentle but complex tannins intersperse with lots of rich earth along with white pepper, plum, and leather. A profound wine for our 20th wedding anniversary.
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1996 Bordeaux Blind: Brooding, coffee grounds, black currant, and well pronounced bell pepper. Powerful. Dense and brooding on the palate. Cool blackberry and black currant. Very good. Close call for wine of the night...
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Really lovely. Not especially intense nor long, but smooth, elegant, typical nose, and a pleasure to drink now--no need to wait on this to me. We put in a decanter, but it drank well from the get go.
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I must admit, young Calon Segur always disappoints me, however the few times that I have tried 20years+ it, each time, blew me away. Wow!!~ this was some kind of 'Tour de Force' here. Super dark violet color not even bricking at the rim yet, however the aromas were super profound, profound and profound. I kept smelling into the large glass as on every inhaling I had a feeling to get ever deeper into its soul almost making me contemplate just from the nose... The perfect balance between the yielding fruits, coming up earth/terroir providing a majestic profile was definitely masculine and not the opposite. Huge depth of leather, dark fruits, beautifully integrated tannin, medium+ texture which got denser and more profound as the bottle went down but not thick nor fat. The back bone freshness was simply awesome as a fresh wind coming from nowhere. Just a personal note; I had it open and sat in the cellar for a good 6~7 hours, but not decanted, before pouring. Cheers,
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We had 2 bottles. Both were pristine with into neck fills. Lovely ruby color. The wine needed only about 15 minutes in the glass to come around fully. Blackberries, tobacco and leather, red fruits, some Cedar and graphite. Sweet long tannins. Very smooth. The finish was a relatively short at 15 seconds for a wine of this quality and that was disappointing given how excellent it was in all other respects.
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Tasted together with Cos 1996, Leoville Barton 1996 and 1995, and Ducru B. 1995. Wine is medium ruby with some hint of age at rim. Evolved nose with very little fruit but intense notes of vegetal, green pepper, cigar box, and leather. Crisp acidity, moderate alcohol and still-grippy tannins give structure to the body. Persistent in the mouth, but not as long as I imagined. It's all about secondary and tertiary flavors (tobacco, cedar, coffee) with black fruit underneath. Enjoyable now or over the next few years (not much further evolution to be expected).
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Apparently my friend and I need to learn a bit more about the nuances of Bordeaux (based on my reading others' reviews)! We did not care for this, it seemed to have no fruit, and didn't get much better after decanting. I would have guessed it was past its prime, yet others feel it's still young! Maybe just a sub par bottle?
Very good, but this is no where near ready. The structure is still a bit obvious and the flavors a bit un-evolved. Needs time, but will be very nice, I think.
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This is a bottle I can honestly say changed the way I thought about wine. Nose was full of crushed velvet, wet forest, dark fruit, and a medicinal herbal quality. Palate is a medium body and soft. Stone-Mineral flavors with very dark fruits and a finish that leans herbal. Well-balanced and turned me into a Bordeaux lover.
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During a Left Bank 1996 tasting dinner. Expressive nose of earth, forest, dark fruit, complex and clearly Medoc. On the palate this is medium-light bodied, there is a whole in the mid palate unfortunately. Just when it should build it dies down, Medium-short finish. Very drinkable but not a grand wine.
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Second Sunday Group: 1996 Bordeaux (high end) (Marty's): Opens with a dominant green/herbal quality, along with dark fruit, iron and tobacco. Medium-bodied with flavors of red and dark fruit, herbs and spice box. There's good underlying acidity. Lingering finish. Very expressive and complex. 94-95 pts.
Double blind: My #1, Domino's #1 Group #2, 45 pts
Single blind guess: Pichon Lalande- I remarked fairly early on that we were drinking Bordeaux and that if there were a Pichon Lalande in the line up, it was wine H. There were a couple of others that had the telltale PLL green notes too, but they were strongest in wine H so I was sure this was it. Anyway, this is drinking very well now and will hold for a quite a few years, I'm sure.
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Beautiful nose of lead pencil, cedar and black fruits. Very young palate, perfect balance, lovely weight and some acidity to make it interesting. Long finish
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Classic and satisfying, lots of deep red/black fruit and resolved tannins. Not a huge amount of complexity, but correct, mature and ready to go although it has a long plateau ahead.
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Full case bought upon release in 1999 and stored in its wooden case under climate-controlled conditions since then.
Had 3 bottles over the past 4 days. All were aerated and decanted.
All 3 bottles presented the same: Earthy bouquet, minimal browning in color, moderate sediment, and austere and tart to the palate. Clearly beyond its peak, but not over-the-hill. Overall, quite disappointing.
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It's undrinkable already. Nothing there........... It's always kept in temp controlled cellar. I am so surprised that this type of Bordeaux should have long life, but I only see a undrinkable wine here. So disappointed!!!
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Mature Bordeaux. Reddish-brown with good clarity. Meaty nose with dried leaves and earthy tones. Medium-weight with some austerity on the finish. Overall a decent mature claret. On it's downslope so time to drink up!
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Restrained nose. Pronounced woodiness, assertive iron character dominates. Tannins are not resolved. While I expect more power than finesse in St. Estephe, I'm finding the whole presentation here a tad rustic. I'd hold for a while. This isn't the first '96 I've found not-quite-ready-for-primetime this year.
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Magnum opened to enjoy Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. On Sunday night the magnum showed slight oxidation from being stored in the refrigerator both Friday and Saturday, nose of cassis, black cherry, plum and cigar box, more of the same on the palate, the previously subdued fruit was very open and approachable on Sunday night, medium/big body, very tasty with Meaty Lasagna, much better wine than Friday night, mouth filling fruit, good complexity, long, long finish. I think this wine is at it's peak based on enjoying the last three nights.
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Magnum opened to enjoy Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. Lots of tobacco, cassis, herbs, plum, and fig on the nose, more of the same on the palate, subdued fruit gives the impression of tasty but not rich, medium/big body, long, long finish.
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at dinner time, 3 hours advanced opening: dark red-purple, tertiary dark fruits aroma with leather-earthy-dusty-stony notes, soft firm integrated tannins, rich fruity flavours, excellent complexity, well balanced and harmonized, excellent long finish, lingering seducing nose
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dark red-purple, tertiary dark fruits aroma with leather-earthy notes, soft firm integrated tannins, rich fruity flavours, excellent complexity, well balanced and harmonized, excellent finish
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dark red-purple, tertiary dark fruits aroma with leather-earthy notes, soft firm integrated tannins, rich fruity flavours, excellent complexity, well balanced and harmonized, excellent finish
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1990's Cali Cabs vs Bordeaux tasting. Tobacco, grilled meat, black fruit, lean and elegant, savory, good acidity, focused, still tight and closed. Needs more time for my taste. Very good, but not big. No hurry to drink my other bottles.
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Mid 90's Bordeaux vs. California Tasting: Old, prune/dried fruit, fully mature, dusty. Good, but left me wanting younger and more vibrant. Drink up. Served blind @ Bordeaux vs. Cali Cab tasting
Post: once unveiled, I remember my previous bottles being younger and more enjoyable.
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A rather big and heavy wine with intense coffee and tobacco on the nose. Palate was very slightly sweet with cassis, leather and more coffee and tobacco. The structure was a bit lacking and the palate mouthfeel was very resolved with almost no harsh or intrusive tannins. I felt that there was a lack of focus and direction in the wine. The finish was moderately long.
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I am beginning to think that I don't favor wines from this Chateau. Extremely masculine and smoky, there is sweetness on the attack and a nice mouthfeel. The finish is dominated by wet tobacco leaf. Stern stern stern. Has entered its plateau for drinking but no rush. (89)
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opened and drank nice nose clean dark fruits taste was fuity blackberries leather coffee smooth finish di not change very much after an hour was maybe slightly better when opened a very good bordeaux
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Pop and pour. Menthol and something green on the nose. On the palate, cherry, currants, green herbal notes, and hints of bitter tobacco and beef bouillon on the medium to long finish, with no noticeable tannin and moderate acidity. This shows pleasant aged Bordeaux flavors, and there is nothing wrong with the wine, but it isn't special either, and the quality doesn't match the price. Looking at the notes here, it appears that there is significant bottle variation, all the way from poor to excellent. Perhaps this one is just at the lower end of the spectrum.
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Becoming less hard edged, with tannins now softening. Dark berry fruit, leather, tobacco box; medium bodied. Seems to be entering a long drinking window.
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This Calon Ségur is young, tannic and earthy. Shows characters of old wine yet approachable. Adequate fruit and chewy. Tannin is not harsh and the wine improve in terms of smoothness as time goes.
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Chateau Calon Segur Vertical Tasting (Crystal Wines shop, Valley Point): From a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Decanted for 30 mins. Dark garnet core. Expressive nose of fresh tobacco, cigar box, herbs, blackcurrant, cherry and licorice. Palate is soft and refine, still showing some freshness, along with blackcurrant, capsicum, dried herbs and tobacco. Fine velvety tannins. Drinking well now.
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1996 Bordeaux at RSJ (RSJ, Southwark): Nose is beefy, with rd and black berry fruit. Medium/full bodied on the palate, chunky, beefy black fruit, and odd stalky note on a slightly firm finish. OK **.
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Double decanted for about 8 hours, and drinking beautifully. Complex, lengthy, with coffee, leather, cedar, a bit of dark chocolate, even a hint of porterhouse? Probably I shouldn't try to identify the flavors after all. This is why we buy wine and look at the bottles for two decades. And it's why our parents should start building us a cellar along with a college fund.
This is drinking spectacularly tonight with filet. Earthy nose, dark cherry fruit with pencil shaving nuances. Well balanced with medium depth. Killer juice!
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Unnumbered March 2015 PDH Berserkerfest (PDH): I think this was PnP. A very nice Bordeaux in the price of life. Dark red cherry fruit and smooth saddle leather with a bit of tobacco. Tannins fully resolved. Fruit is taking on a tiny bit of sweetness.
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I am pleased to say my wine store offered a fantastic customer service experience by providing a replacement bottle free of charge following a corked bottle, so my big thanks to etc wines in Hong Kong, especially as I drank this for my brother in laws birthday.
I am delighted to say this wine was much better than the first. Medium to full bodied, but still structured, quite tannic, and probably having the ability to last another 10+ years. Poured into a decanter and drank over 2.5 hours
By itself a good wine, but when I compared this to the Ducru Beaucaillou 1999 and Gruard Larose 2000 consumed the week before, I can't help but feel that both of those have to be considered the better buys given they are all in the same approximate price category but certainly higher in quality.
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Corked. Having now read a vast numbers of tasting notes citing TCA issues, I am starting to be concerned there were some widespread problems at Calon Segur this year.
In the glass the wine was dark red and surprisingly youthful looking for a 19 year old wine, but unfortunately on the nose there was only one aroma: Earth earth and earth, without any significant aromas of fruit. To taste, the wine was again dominated by wet earth flavours and was generally flat and muted.
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Deep garnet. Nose between adolescence and adulthood. Leather, black fruits. Taste was smooth, rich, leather, touch anise. Very good and seemingly young for a 19 yo wine.
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Compared next to a 1989 Las Cases this came across as slightly green and herbal. This was good, with nice earthy and graphite notes, but was austere and unreolved next to the Leoville. Nevertheless, this was still a great wine, lovely balance and nice complexity.
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Opened by Parcival from magnum at an offline. 2nd time I have had this wine. Deep crimson color. Still had the same green pepper aromas on the nose that it had 11 years ago with some mint. Old world styled. Notes of tobacco, forest floor and morel. Fine minerality. Definitely improved over the last 11 years and showing very well. 93 points.
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From magnum opened by Parcival. Notes of roasted bell pepper, earth and dark fruit with just a hint of brett underneath. Balanced and drinking quite nicely already in this format. Flavors of black and red currants, herbs, tobacco and earth. Finishes with good length. Tannins are still present but not at all obtrusive. A real treat. 94 pts.
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Excellent wine for the price. 1996 left bank is one of my favorite vintages having had many of the first growth. Decanted and aerated for 2 hours then drank over 2. Nice nose of cassis, black currant, leather, tar, tobacco and spice. Enters aggressive on the palate with dark fruits, leather and tobacco, covers mid palate with fruit, good backbone, medium to full bodied, and a decent albeit rustic tannic finish. Still needs time but shows good promise with further complexity in another 5 years.
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Decanted for 3 hours. Typical left bank nose with pencil shaving and lead, leather and hint of beef stock. Palate has dark fruits, a bit of tannins, balanced. Medium to long finish.
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Classic Bordeaux with beautiful fragrant nose, well integrated tannins, smooth mid weight with dried herbs on palate. Lots of life left. Still has some power but great elegance. Enjoyed.
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Medium-dark garnet color. Decanted for three hours, this had an earthy and spicy nose of mushrooms, anise, tobacco and wood. On the palate this is mature and well-balanced, with a pleasant mix of dark fruit flavors and sous bois elements echoing the nose. The tannins are well-resolved and this drinks smoothly. It retains enough structure that I'd confidently hold on to bottles for another 3-5 years. Classic, lovely Bordeaux.
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Terroir-istes International - France, Bordeaux, St. Estephe (Rodwell House): Dull mid garnet to wide orange rim, the bouquet is mature with tertiary fruits, tomato leaf, undergrowth and herbs. As it opens, it reveals some graphite, dry pencil shavings and an odd cardboard note suggesting cork issues. Whilst the palate exhibits some black fruits it seems compromised and suggests a scalped bottle.
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- Slow forming legs with a medium body. Smooth texture with a long finish - Dark and opaque. Brown purple rim. Aroma: Gamy, mushroom and leather. With air, intense dried cranberry, cherry, anise, oak and violet. Palate entry: soft silky tannin, strawberry, cherry. Mid-Palate: earthy, anise, black pepper, cinnamon. Finish: oak, floral, orange blossom, hint of Camembert. smooth, floral, light but still have structure for a few more years.
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Lovely full and expressive nose - cedar and marzipan on top of classic cabernet notes. Opened up in the glass. Drinking very well now and for another 5 years I should think.
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Interesting that several here cited bottles as being corked, because I detected subtle taint but none of those sharing the bottle could taste it. In any event, this wine has spent some time in funky town, -not necessarily a bad thing. Starting to show its age around the rim, but plenty of life left here. The nose is dominated by cat piss -not necessarily a bad thing- and the palate is very blueberry and mineral. Again, I was tasting TCA, so I couldn't fully embrace the wine, but it's a decent if not remarkable bottle. Revisited on 2nd and 3rd nights and it just got better- more interesting, integrated and pleasurable. Funky.
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Tobacco leaf, tar covered red fruits on the nose. Soft in the mouth with the tannins well resloved. Low to medium viscosity. Finishes medium in length. While very pleasant, I found it a little light in concentration, with the fruit slightly overshadowed by the oak. Can't recommend at current market prices.
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Opened but did not decant and allowed to breath for about an hour (you can easily over decant this wine. If you decant I would say max 30min). This wine is good. Near perfect balance with prominent cherry throughout. Medium plus finish. Can drink this without food or with a light meal. Plenty of life left but unlikely to improve. Average value.
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Mostly French (& A Few More) Offline at Tilia (Tilia, Mpls): Very dark red color. No signs of age. PNP after the first bottle was corked, drank 1 glass over 80 minutes. Nose starts with great funk, earth, nice fruits, cassis, blueberry, earthy, floral, some dry herbs. The palate is full bodied, pretty, dry earth, cassis, blueberry, spices, medium grained round tannins, medium plus finish. This was drinking great on a PNP and shows nice maturity, hitting its stride now.
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Rubber and tar nose; austere but with great structure; cedar with medium bodied blackberry and some coffee; good complexity and a nicely balanced feeling of well integrated tannins and moderate fruit; smooth but a bit tannic and moderately long finish.
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Slightly musty nose and flavor when opened. Very smooth, Dark fruits and cherries. After taste was a bit heavy like the musty taste. Served three bottles with a Coq au vin and all were alike interesting but not outstanding, but a very nice compliment to the meal
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TN: Calon Segur vertical (Ripple Restaurant in DC): Mostly red fruit driven, quite mineral, lead pencil, cedar, a hint of eucalyptus Classic claret and drinking extremely well in very youthful way. This is a classic St. Estephe, quite mineral, precise and pure.
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16 vintages of Calon Segur (Ripple Restaurant in Washington D.C.): What lovely cool blueberry fruit. This had much precision and focus and it was one of my favorite wines of the evening. It was interesting to compare this to 1995 and 1989. Keith Levenberg loved the 1995. And while the 1995 may have had more substance on the mid palate, I think that the 1996 conveyed greater freshness and precision. An interesting comparison to be sure - and one to monitor in the future!
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Happily drinking well after several hours. I hope to live long, but if waiting 18 years is barely enough....anyhow the Calon was a very good companion to rack of lamb, classic for a Bordeaux. Some notes of caramel, tobacco, slightly dusky, with a presence on the palate that lasted and lasted.
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Drinking beautifully right now. Definitely more on the savoury side now, with tobacco, cedar and olive notes in the foreground, and the fruit rounding out the wine's flavour profile.
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Tasting notes from memory 2 weeks ago: Classic cab/medoc nose of green pepper/green olives. Very dry, great balance, fine length. The cassis nose and flavors are tuned way down. This is all about the tertiary flavors.
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Green pepper, plum, cedar and leather on the nose. Medium body - Dark fruit, herbs and tobacco with nice minerality on the finish. Early maturity - could fill out a little. 92 points
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Popped and poured. Nose totally expressive of st estephe. Barnyard, scorched wet earth, tar, shoe leather, burnt rubber, must wet barrel. Color was rich purple to the rim with no browning to speak of. Bright red fruit on the palate with significant wood tannins yet balanced with good acidity on the mid palate and finish of cherry fruit. Not very complex on the palate as the nose. Still young but approachable. Lingering dry fruit finish. Let's see where this is in an hour. 92 pop and pour.
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Ruby color, but transparent at the edges. Blackberries and cedar nose, with a hint of tobacco coming through on the palate. Fine tannins still in evidence. Not the same richness and depth of the '96 Montrose served first, but very, very drinkable with rib roast, and later with cheese after the port ran out (teenagers!!).
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60 minute decant. Nose of red currant, sun-baked earth, and tobacco leaf. Caressing palate of red fruit still shows some bright freshness before layers of gravel and tobacco take over, adding some floral notes. The tannin layers are fully resolved but show complexity, with light acidity, duty earth, red plum, and red stones. A great 27th wedding anniversary wine, but our marriage will outlast the 5-7 years this vintage has left.
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CT Texas VI - Return to San Antonio; 10/18/2013-10/19/2013 (San Antonio): Nice nose of red and black currant, bell pepper, cedar, tobacco, hints of graphite. On the palate great depth and balance, with black currant, red currant, mocha, and cedar. Great grip on with a nice tannic finish. Still drinking very young. I would hold these for a while longer.
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Based on professional scores and ratings this is clearly over performing. Had my second bottle from this case that I bought on futures. Dark red, dense,chewy,lots of black fruit, tannins are softening some but this does still have a good ten years of life still in it. Opened up over 4 hours . Drinking beautifully now.
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Much better showing than my last bottle. Great depth and balance, lovely blackcurrant and mocha flavous, creamy oak and fine ripe tannins which are resolving nicely. This for me still wasn't showing lots of secondary flavours so feel it has many years to go yet over which time it should show further improvement.
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Still Ruby. M+ very fine grained tannin, M+ body, H acidity, and Pronounced intensity on both nose and the palate. Very integrated flavour of ripe black fruits, blackcurrant leaf, herbaceous, spicies, cider, vallina, cegar box, tobacco and hint of meat and leather. Not a powerful craft but there is a certain concentration in it. Long finish.
Outstanding quality. Drink very well now but can still age for 5-6 years.
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More evolved to judge by its color than the 1995, this expressive and surprisingly approachable wine offers up complex notions of beef blood, plum sauce, leather, blackcurrant, black tea and dried herbs. Its tannins are fullly resolved and its palate impression is beautifully sweet and balanced. At least from an old subterranean passive cellar, this is in a very nice place right now.
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Classic Bordeaux. Strong cedar and tobacco with some muted berry aromatics. Strong blackberry and a clean finish. The initial heat blew off after an hour.
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Simply wonderful, nose is something to relish, notes of cedar, tobacco, worn leather, earth and some dark chary/ raspberry, similar palate, body is silky with the tannin and acidity integrated well at the stage, slight bitterness towards the finish which could have been a slight touch longer
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Decanted one hour ahead. Deep ruby color. Dark fruit, more blackberry than cassis, and distinct cedar on the nose. Palate had both as well, but quite savory: not sweet in the slightest. Lighter bodied than the '96 Ch.Montrose. Paired with lamb chops and grilled vegetables.
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Deep ruby color, medium bodied, the nose is floral and sweet dark fruits, the palate is very refreshing, raspberries, blackberries, cedar wood, some leather, and hint of coffee in the finish.
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Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Double blind tasting. Lots of sweet black fruit. Plum and black cherry aromas and flavors with good vanilla and chocolate support. Forward and easy to enjoy. Much better than I recall from when last tasted a couple of years ago.
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A big behemoth of a Bordeaux that must be decanted hours before you attempt to drink it. Still has 10 years left. Vegetal, earthy, black fruits and moist soil and cigar box and pencil lead and mushroom, etc etc.
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1982-1990-1996 Bordeaux evening (my home): light red-brown color with brown rim; Strong green herbs aroma that softened a bit during 30 min - this wine require a pre-opening of few hours; very tannic & green in taste; a classical Saint Estephe.
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Still very young and decanted for three hours to allow it to breathe. Initial bouquet showed hints of tocbacco, spice and red berries. Palette of dark fruits and a spicy cinamon. Has plenty of time and legs and should evolve wonderfully. Good to revisit in 5 years.
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This was in great shape! Initially, the wine showcased a big, open and earthy nose of cedar, mint, leather, a hint of tobacco, and dark fruits, which grew more complex over time. Classic Bordeaux nose! In the mouth, a big and smooth texture featured flavors of creamy blueberries and blackberries which was followed by a long, spicey, but tannic finish. Over time, the finish settled and evolved with a lingering hint of brown sugar and cimmamon.
In great shape now, but I'd say it still has 5-10 years of positive evolution. 93+
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A great classic St Estephe. Decanted for 4 hours and it really helped. Smoothed it out. Classic graphite and green pepper - clear Cab note. Drinking beautifully and has several more years on the drinking plateau. Good blue fruit. Long finish
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drink up as it's closing time. Not much fruit left, but a scratchy earthiness and... Blackness. Dark... Deep... Black... Like the inside of my heart. White orchids and black roses. The sensuous cassis spice of Baphomet's mouthwash takes root in empty tooth cavities and guides the tongue serpent in an astral taste travel spanning several lifetimes. Like a Lynchian film, there's light and dark. Brett and reductive hints linger round the toast by the camp fire. Mephistopheles is smoking inside my mouth! A cigar! A light in the darkness, is it just headlights? Smooth sailing on the river Styx. No bumpy tannins. Like a well brewed cup of Green Tea. The spiral of wonder goes deeper than you think.
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Dark purple to the rim. Think legs and body. Nose almost of ocean water and salt, herbacious, dark fruit, white pepper. Palate of dark black fruit, spice, vanilla and little oak. Integrated tannins. Outstanding.
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Tobacco, mint and red berries on the nose with a hint of oak and cassis. Drinking ok-ish now, although it needed a good 30 minutes or so, but there was a slightly overwhelming flavour of trees and shrubs.. thats all i can describe it as, alongside the nice plush berries. A touch too many tannins also for my liking giving the structure.
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Notes of tobacco, spice box, cassis, cigar box and leaf, medium bodied, with a fresh, bright, crisp red and black fruit finish. This is developing at a faster pace than I thought, as Calon Segur usually takes decades to come around.
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Have had better bottles of this wine. Seemed to have a bit of a green streak going on which threw the balance out a bit and which I have not picked up in previous bottles of wine. Plenty of plush fruit, cedar, chalky tannins and nice length, depth and balanced acidity. I think this is a better wine than this showing.
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Opened, decanted and served. Very little sediment. Good bottle and cork. The nose is the highlight here. Open from the start, secondary, earthy light fruit notes. On the palate although well round and very enjoyable it seems to be missing depth and complexity. Maybe its because it followed the lovely Rauzan-Segla 1996 (Papies 93). Still a very enjoyable, mature wine. Classic bordeaux style. 91 and drink at will.
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Garnet coloured. Fully developed, farmyard funk, leather, wet hay, mushroom, tobacco, cedar, graphite, pencil shavings and slight mint. In the mouth there are flavours of leather, sweet tobacco, meaty, savoury, slight bramble, long finish, fine grippy tannin, cedar, medium plus body.
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Very evolved color. Nice. Nose of cocoa, forest floor, blue fruits. Nice balance and tannins solid in mid palate and smoothen out on the back. Very pleasant and ready.
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Acker Merrall 1996 Left Bank Bordeaux Dinner (Balsan - Chicago IL): Perhaps a disappointing bottle or this is at an awkward phase, but this didn't show the level of fruit, spice or nuance I would expect. Came across as acidic and tannic, still quite structured, without much pleasure provided today. I don't know exactly when opened and decanted, but this wasn't popped-and poured and I think was given reasonable treatment in order for it to show well.
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Still very fresh at 15 years old and many years left to go. All the hallmarks of a lovely St Estephe with rich red fruits, cedar and firm but ripe and well integrated tannins. Went great with a rolled lamb shoulder.
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Our anniversary wine. Last year's bottle seemed more balanced and developed. Still a wonderful St. Estephe, better with a few more years of bottle age.
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Wild. Tea, tobacco and cigarbox. A touch of leather. High acid and a bit oak. Quite the debate between the 4 tasters. Made for a great discussion. I really enjoyed it. I initially labeled it a spanish wine. Probably my favorite wine of the night
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wine evening hosted by Yoram (at Yoram Solberg): Blind tasting; bottle was opened just before the tasting; light red-brown color with brown rim; Strong green herbs aroma that softened a bit during 30 min - this wine require a pre-opening of few hours; very tannic & green in taste; a classical Saint Estephe.
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First bottle out of a case. Earthy nose with some currant, tar and cigar box; dark red color, no sign of ageing yet.Drank over the course of 2 hours. Relatively austere. Some red fruit hidden behind minerals, tar and tobacco, decent finish. Curious how this will be in a year.
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Mom's choice for wine with roast duck at Christmas. I went with Beaux Freres PN ('04) and thus did not have much of the Calon. Tasted initially upon opening, and then 1-2 hours in decanter, and tasted over dinner for the next hour. It seems very typical of the winery: medium bodied, old world style (12.5 abv), leather & peat, red currant, solid grip on the finish. A glass left at the end of the evening was vacuvin'd and put in the frig. Next evening after warming a bit, it seemed even sweeter than previous night. Might give my other bottle another year, or longer decant.
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Slow oxidation for about 3 hours prior. Some initial barnyard on the nose which soon passed leaving a lot of black cherry and some cassis. Deep red in color and no sign of aging. Medium bodied. I thought the tannins had resolved well. Medium-length finish. As someone else commented, I doubt that this will ever be a great wine or much better than it is now but it is well made and very enjoyable with food; we paired it with entrecôte béarnaise, pommes sautées and green beans and it went well.
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At Charlie Palmer's in Dallas. Decanted. Eye: difficult to gauge in dim restaurant light but deep brickish robe with clear rim. (5) Nose: opened with a corn husk smell I associate with right bank merlots and that blew off to give more traditional aromas (13) Palate: cool and refreshing cab fruit flavor and builds to fill the mouth more fully. Later there some cocoa chocolate feel at the back end after an hour of air. Tannins are fine but still dense. Finish is 20+seconds (17) Up until now I have not been impressed that 1996s were drinking particularly well. The handful of left bank I have tried were still dumb but not this one tonight. 5+13+17+7 = 92
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Looks like I'm on the high end of the rating bell-curve on this one, compared to other CT as well as professional notes. So be it.... Decanted 2 hours, poured back into the bottle, re-corked and foiled so I could bring it to the restaurant stealthily as "unopened." Beautiful wine. Expressive and complex nose and palate. Cocoa-dusted current, cedar, peat, some floral elements as well as deep minerality. Medium bodied, medium finish, elegant. Tannins present but more senescent than in previous years, contributing to perfect balance. Could it be sentimentality because this is our Anniversary Wine (married in '96, the bottle has a heart on the label, and we enjoyed several vintages before we were married and since)? Did the outdoor sunset dinner and company influence and enhance my perception of the wine? Probably, but something as subjective as taste is bound to be influenced by environment and mood. That said, regardless of whether I rate this a 90 or a 98, this wine was outstanding on this night
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Bordeaux North to South (My house): Obviously quite young. A lot of power, black currant; not particularity elegant, noticeable tannins. OK wine – but doubt whether it will turn into something really interesting.
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Cracking good wine. I paid a lot retail to get my hands on this recently, and I am perfectly happy with the QPR. Someone mentioned a Petite Lafite nose below. Funny, because one of my first associations with this wine was the nose reminded me of Latour. Not the same, and you wouldn't want to open this with that expectation, but the related complexity was striking. As others have noted, there is some greeness here on the palate and moreso on the finish. It didn't bother me too much at all though as it didn't detract from the fruit.
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Slow ox for 4 hrs. Ruby core with no signs of age. I wasn't expecting this to be as primary and green as it was, but over the course of a few hours much of that had (mostly) dissipated. Very lively acids, firm tannins and flavours of cassis, red berry and vanilla. Not yet in its preferred drinking window, this has another 15 years ahead of it. Be sure to decant thoroughly if opening now.
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Classic Calon, nose is dark with green pepper. Developed somewhat over a couple of hours, but maintained an austerity. May need more time to mature and open. Lavender.
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Opened and decanted a half-hour before consumption. Initially the nose was a little closed, but there was a general notion of serious red and black fruit in there. Eventually opened to black cherry, licorice, loam and a touch of sweet violet. Palate matched, though I was initially concerned that there seemed to be very little happening in the midpalate: good attack, but the wine sort of vanished for a moment before regrouping for a long sappy finish. Given the excellent, minute-plus finish, I thought the wine would fill in, and within a half-hour it did just that, becoming a lovely, velvety, well-rounded mature claret. Good acidity provided structure, though the tannin was entirely resolved.
Maybe a little less intensity than I'd hoped for, but great elegance and presence. Lovely with rack of lamb.
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I am quite conservative with my points, but this wine showed so well tonight that I must go very high. Nice balance of maturity and fruit explosion. Classic Bordeaux with a hint of Beringer Private Reserve. Extremely long finish. Polished cassis juice with 1:er cru aspiration.
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Not great provenance for this bottle, as a little wine had seeped up to the top of the cork. Still, solid tannins and minerals on day one, with some dark fruit. Day two was arguably better, with graphite and anise most prominent. It was smoother and less tannic on the second day, if slightly quieter and more austere as well. Well-stored bottles of this likely have awhile to go.
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Classic Bordeaux aromas of red currant and plum, sweet cedar, tobacco leaf. Very seductive. Great fruit on the palate, medium plus body, and great minerality. Still very young and needs time for the tannins to fully resolve. Great wine.
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Had this wine after dinner with friends at a restaurant yesterday. Very nice and earthy nose of currant, dark cherries cloaked with tar and cigar box; beautiful red to dark red ruby color, no sign of ageing yet. After only an hour in the decanter this wine was extremely enjoyable and we savoured it over the next 2 hours. Great entry, super mid palate, dark red fruit yet still hidden behind earth, tar and tobacco, very nice though not outstanding finish. This medium to full bodied wine was extremely well balanced with strong yet smooth and velevety tannins. Much more enjoyable and drinkable than the 1996 Montrose I drank a couple of months ago.
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Very dark red. Decanted for over six hours, thte wine was still aromatically pretty shy. A bit of leather and hints of spice, but pretty shy aromatically. The palate was much better, showing dense fruit in a full boied way. Really packed with plummy dense way, with the leather notes, and earth, currants, cedar. Texture is fullish, and reasonably soft. Finish is medium length. Hoping for more aromatic development....
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Ruby red with no signs of bricking. Nose of saddle leather, tar and licorice, with flavors of sour cherry, lead pencil and pine cone. Minty finish. Still a teenager. Slightly tannic finish, and medium-long length, but drinking well.
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Opened, little pour, smelt, and danced around the room. Deep, leather, cigarbox, casis, spice, leather. Medium plus body but good structure and ends clean and long and long. It is what I like. Didn't therefore decant and it didn't change much over three or four hours. Tastes as it smells. Perfect in all departments but ultimately not as complex as, say, a 95 Pichon Baron. 3+
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Deep ruby-garnet color, with flashes of violet. Mineral, barnyard, lead pencil, and green olive around a decent core of plummy fruit. Lots of sour acidity and largely resolved tannins. Excellent length on the pleasant, if slightly stemmy, finish. This bottle may have suffered from a tiny bit of corkiness, but still made for nice drinking.
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This had a clean, dark purple color and appeared quite young. The wine was decanted for over an hour, after which the nose showed notes of graphite and other minerals, along with a refreshing, almost palate-cleansing ginger effect. In the mouth, the wine was a bit tannic at first, but eventually smoothed out into a almost velvety texture. The palate was predictably similar to the nose, with good minerality and hints of berry, acidity and even herbs on the finish, which was long and powerful.
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Drinking very well right now. Served with grilled lamb for Easter. We drank this alongside the '96 Pichon and it finished second of the two, but it was still very good. Decanted 3 hours and the wine was very smooth and no real signs of fading yet.
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Wineflock - Wine with Lamb (My house): Full crimson red color. Big forward nose of green pepper, spice, briar and red fruit - nice. Mmmn, nice smooth red black fruit with a green hint on the palate. One of the nicer pairings for the lamb.
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purple red. A bit shy nose of hints of leather, currant and pencil shavings. On the full side of mid weight, good fruit cencentration, but not yet at peak, and needs additional time to bloom. This wasn't infanticide, but clearly this wine is still tight and has not reached its potential. Try again in 2014.
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Can not remember how many times I've tried this wine. Anyway, I always love Calon-Segur 1996, it's Petit-Lafite.
Strong scent of cedar wood, deep and clean, Lafite's style. The palate is beautiful, everything is perfect, balance, acid and very well-round. The aftertaste is so kind, soft, smooth and long.
When the fruit shows up, umm....this is mind-blowing wine. I must buy as many bottles as I can. I just find out that Calon-Segur makes me happy like Lafite did.
Drink 2009 - 2022.........92-93/100
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Very nice cab with mild aromas and flavors of cassis, cherry and spicy oak. Quite subdue at this point and doubt it will improve much over time. Drink now.
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Dark ruby tending toward a little purplish. Complex nose of mixed berries, tree fruit, and spices. Palate has much less fruit and is dominated by minerality, more spices, earthiness. Tannins are still very, very robust. Long finish.
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Very nice ruby red, very complex. Clean nose of black fruit, cherries, tobacco, leather. Very lafite alike IMO. Medium wine with lots of interesting stuffs.
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The nose and palate show cassis, green olive, wet tobacco and a hint of leather. Unfortunately, the midpalate seemed a bit hollow with slightly sour fruit and bell pepper notes. I initially scored this lower, but the wine did seem to integrate and deepen with some air time. I suspect this wine would benefit from a few hours of decanting, and likely my score is conservative.
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READY TO DRINK! Anyone that has a bunch of these like I do should start consuming. Delicious and fully open. Cassis and cedar predominate - previously noted tannins have melted away. Best wine I have opened in the past 6 months. Sadly miles above the 89 Latour I uncorked last week...
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1996 Bordeaux Horizontal (Custom House): Forward dark chocolate black plum fruit nose with some hot spices. Red and black fruits witha somewhat hollow mid palate and an acidic finish.
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1996 Bordeaux Horizontal (Custom House - Chicago, IL): Complex nose has new world and old, with ripe dark fruits, mocha, spice but a distinct Bordeaux minerality. Palate has stiff tannins that close down the fruit and offer a bitterness on the finish. Needs time.
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Decanted for 2 hours, fruity nose, could not tell more details as a bottle of Macallan 25 years whiskey was consumed before this bottle of wine. Big mistake, at least for me. Whiskey overpowered senses and wine, making wine lacking characther. V. smooth and 30+sec finish and that's all I can rate for this bottle for now. Drank enough to convince me that it is worth another go in the near future.
90+
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Decanted 2 hours before drinking. Deep tobacco, loamy nose with black fruits and a touch of menthol. Great mouthfeel, a touch of salinity, but very rich and mouthfilling without being heavy. Intense flavors on the palate lead to a long and deep finish, with everything in balance. Still youthful and a bit lean with extended airing, but the tannins are well balanced by the fruit. This is drinking nicely right now, however you are in no hurry to drink them up.
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Beautiful nose displaying tobacco, truffles, wet earth, creme de cassis and blueberries. On the palate it evolved through the night displaying more and more of its fruit. The finish started very short and lenghtened considerably as the wine opened up. The last glass had a very long and satisfying finish. This is drinking fine now and will drink well for another 5 years or so.
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Anniversary Dinner with Friends: Opened but not decanted about five hours before serving. I probably should have decanted. This has an even darker color than the Pichon Baron. The nose is very reserved giving dark fruit and leather. A slight greenness on the nose makes the wine seem a bit austere, but this does not carry through to the taste. On the palate this is silky smooth. The taste is dominated by dark fruit with little in the way of secondary flavors. The texture is great and the finish is plenty long. It will be interesting to see how this develops with additional bottle age.
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Double decanted and recorked for 4 hours prior to drinking and this really opened up the wine beautifully. Everything we were waiting for after opening the last couple of bottles was there waiting for us this time and made for an awesome experience. Dark ruby core to a very slight fading on the rim. Earthy, cigar box nose with nicely integrated berry and fruit flavors and a smooth, long finish. One of the best 1996 St. Estephe wines we have had to date.
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This bottle showed better than the bottle we opened back in August but still took a little while to unwind itself. Like the 96 Cos d'Estournel we had the same night, this one is still young. On the nose the earthy, cigar box notes jumped out of the bottle quite quickly. Earth and berry flavors. Medium to full bodied with the tannins showing up on the finish.
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Big nose of earth and cigar box mixed with maybe green peppers. We decanted this for about a half hour and maybe should have let it sit much longer. Still seemed a little tightly wound. By the time we finished the bottle, things were just coming together nicely. Fortunately we still have a couple more.
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Austin Wine Tasting (Castle Hill Cafe): Garnet Red. Amazing nose of all that is great about left-bank Bordeaux. Cigar Box, truffle, earth, loads of cassis and dark berry fruit. Black olive tapenade and a rustic gameyness I like. Almost sweet finish and great texture and mouthfeel. Only surprise...seemingly more advanced in its evolution than I would have thought as the wine was not nearly as tannic as I would have expected.
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Good stuff, well balanced, smooth, tannins are integrated well. The nose is a little closed off at first, but second pour was less muted. Beautiful notes of anise and charred meat are surrounded by deep dark fruit. Not a blockbuster, I like the '95 a little better, but I think this wine is more approachable than the '95.
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The 3 Tenors of Saint Estephe (Calon, Cos & Montrose): 1982, 1990, 1995, 1996 & 2000 (New York City, NY): Wine No. 2 (1996 Calon Segur) Darker than wine 1 but a lighter rim. Muted nose of very spicy (pepper?) strawberries (even though it doesn’t conform with what one would expect from a St. Estephe). I perceived a higher merlot content than the other two wines. This wine opened some with time but remained closed throughout. The finish lacked length and fruitiness. I picked Calon Segur correctly. 90+ points . I did not write down the group voting in this flight.
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This tasting showed the wine very similar to last year's tasting. The displays significant amounts of cassis and red fruit, tobacco, cedar, and spice with a touch of rustic twang. Very good, would be better with more air.
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Last fall this was a liquid sweet-tart, one of the sweetest juiciest Bordeaux wines I've tasted. This bottle was disappointing. Green pepper, mushrooms, leather, roasted beef, with almost no fruit. Not corked, just off ... I hope.
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A delicous treat, like drinking a liquid sweettart. The nose is so smooth and sweet, the cassis in this was only beaten by one other wine that night, the 85 Margaux. Great sensations of rasberry, earthiness, and leather all with rich tannins that are going to integrate nicely in time.
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4/30/2024 - melvinyeowq wrote: 95 Points
Pre-Labour Day drinks: Beautiful, expressive nose with tobacco, leather and a hint of pyrazines. Regal and classy on the palate, had a superb restraint and understated nature which I love in wines. Acidity, tannins and fruit were in perfect balance at this stage of its development. Guessed 1996 Montrose and when revealed to be a Saint-Estèphe but not Montrose, could only be Calon Segur who knocked it out of the park in this vintage. This wine was on my list to try, and happy that it was firing on all cylinders. A fantastic old-school Bordeaux at its peak
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4/6/2024 - aagrawal wrote: 94 Points
Stood up for months and decanted off age-appropriate sediment. Deep ruby with age-appropriate bricking; medium-plus intensity aromatics with blackberry, capsicum, tobacco, smoky cedar, forest floor; palate is medium-full bodied, refreshing medium-plus acidity throughout, very balanced medium alcohol (honestly could be 12.5%), perfect balance of some residual youthful fruit with early tertiary complexity and fully integrated tannins; medium length finish. This is superbly balanced bordeaux at maturity, showing impeccable fruit and additional complexity. Ready to go immediately after decanting, but this should have a few years left in it. (Also ready to go now, and I'll start drinking through my bottles.) Unlike my note from 2018, this wasn't at all thin through the midpalate and seems balanced throughout. Of note, none of the rustic tannin-heavy feel of most St. Estephe. The balance on this is really a standout. 94
Double decanted when first opened, retasted 5-6 hours later and this had started to fade a bit and lose some vibrancy. Drink when first opened.
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3/25/2024 - kenv Likes this wine: 95 Points
[Dinner at Salil's. Double decanted an hour and a half before serving.] Loads of rich fruit in the nose with hints of leather and cigar box. Rich red currants and graphite in the mouth. Expansive. A terrific Bordeaux with a long life ahead.
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3/25/2024 - salil wrote: 93 Points
Double decanted an hour and a half before serving. Terrific old school claret here - black fruit, cedar, tobacco, greener herbal notes, and a more savoury earthy/graphite character all come together seamlessly on a medium weight frame. It's not a big wine, but there's remarkable intensity to the aromatics, and a striking palate presence with bright acids giving it a sense of lift and vibrancy. Lovely wine that still has years ahead - I'll hold my remaining bottles a while longer.
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3/3/2024 - VAGentleman wrote: 94 Points
Delightful! Elegant perfume black raspberry on the front mellowing into notes of herb, leather, and melange of dark and red berries. Long finish.
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3/2/2024 - Cremuel wrote: 93 Points
Bob’s cellar. Deep dark purple red, no bricking. Fulsome nose of blackcurrant, lively acidity and bite. Flavours are warm and balanced, earthy forest floor, unsmoked cigar, grip and a this is an even and persistent exhibition of Bordeaux. Long lasting flavours - 30 seconds or more. Really good.
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12/29/2023 - Sean Tay Likes this wine: 95 Points
5th tasting with similar notes.
Medium garnet in colour. Pronounced nose intensity with notes of tobacco, smoke, sandal wood, charr wood, cedar, leather, wet forest, cooked black fruits. On the palate, acidity is medium and medium tannin. Full bodied with pronounced intensity flavour.
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12/17/2023 - Vstalam wrote: 97 Points
One of the best wines I’ve had all year. In a perfect window blending graphite/lead secondary notes on the nose with vibrant fruit and acidity on the palate and long velvety tannins on the finish. Feels like it’s in a perfect window now. Great with or without food.
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12/16/2023 - Radboy wrote: 94 Points
Plum and cherry fruit, hints of cinnamon and a touch of mushrooms. A classic Left Bank wine, muscular impressions from the Cabernet but balanced with a warm fruit finish. This has aged well. Licorice notes, warm soil. This is a dandy! My last bottle and I was glad that I didn’t hold for too long.
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11/3/2023 - edjBoca Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opens quickly ...Beautiful nose pencil lead and mushroom...medium body nice finish.....L bank Bordeaux
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10/13/2023 - WST Likes this wine:
A Charity event plus two days of birthday celebration; a memorable three day weekend.; 10/13/2023-10/15/2023 (Samish Hill, Bellingham, WA): This is our "anniversary wine", and we've opened one each year in August to celebrate. Two months ago on our anniversary, the bottle was delicious but seemed advanced, so I used this opportunity to open another to see if the last had been a one-off.
The 1959 Barolo and the 2010 Produttori were not worthy of the Japanese Grade 5 Waygu steaks I'd seared, so I quickly splash decanted this. It was fantastic, much better than the bottle in August. Powerful on the nose; it was like walking into a cigar and pipe tobacco humidor. Smoky dark red fruit and licorice on the nose and palate. Intense attack persists into a long finish. This showed very well; a triumph in St. Estèphe in 1996.
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9/24/2023 - Willmerson wrote: 99 Points
This was literally about as close to perfection as I have tasted in nearly a decade. Upon opening, there is just a density and concentration of secondary aroma. Is that carry this wine along. While you could tell that the fruit initially was ripe and dense as well, it is fully realized now with a dark, damp soil, Luxardo cherry syrup dipped cigars and sweet leather. The wine has a core of rich black fruit and a hint of bell pepper. Opened and decanted but drank over 2 hours with Pasta Pomodoro. I wish I had 5 more bottles.
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9/16/2023 - Juliansi Likes this wine: 94 Points
Green leafy nose soon turned into an aged and classical Bordeaux magic of tobacco with hints of graphite.
Bottle breathed for 5 hours, nice full body and softening tannins, but lively too. Thanks Eng for kindly sharing this on his birthday with WMK, Eng and me at Senses over yet another divine dinner here.
Great preparation and Eng showed both patience as well as restraint in bottle breathing this at 3pm. We only started trying this at about 9pm, and it was in such a good place.
1996 is described as a Bordeaux vintage which celebrates Cab (Cabernet Sauvignon),and this Saint Estephe appelation must be one of the stars.
Classical ceppage of 65% Cab, 25% Merlot, 7% Cab Franc and 3% PV.
Why the heart on the logo? Marquis de Segur famously had ownership of numerous top Bordeaux estates of the day but (he also owned Lafite and Latour) de Segur is credited with uttering the words that spawned the idea behind the heart-shaped logo of Calon Segur.. “I make my wine at Lafite and Latour, but my heart is in Calon.” ❤️
Softening mouthfeel with lively fruit and yet the secondary and tertiary nuances were coming through on the complex layers at the same time.
Wonderful aged Bordeaux from a stellar vintage. I knew this was a Left Bank, but underguessed the vintage thinking it mat have been mid 2000s. A wonderful claret!
This is truly one of the Top 3 Saint Estephes I have ever had. Helps that this has 27 years of cellaring time. It could go on another 5 or even 10 years!
16th Sep 2023
La Sense at Farm to Plate, Damansara Kim, Malaysia
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9/2/2023 - Sean Tay Likes this wine: 95 Points
Medium garnet in colour. Pronounced nose intensity with notes of tobacco, smoke, sandal wood, charr wood, cedar, leather, wet forest, cooked black fruits. On the palate, acidity is medium and medium tannin. Full bodied with pronounced intensity flavour. Decant in the bottle for 3 hour.
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8/28/2023 - Philip67 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Sweet rose petals on the nose and palate, alongside tertiary leather, cedar and red fruits. Delicious! The structure is soft but there is enough tannin and freshness to provide lift and interest. Medium weight. Long and complex. Fully mature and drinking perfectly now. Will last for another decade at least.
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8/25/2023 - WST Likes this wine:
We’ve drunk this wine on our anniversary annually since release. I have almost two cases left to allow celebrations into our nineties.
The wine showed full maturity. It was delicious but essentially all tertiary. Humidor; pipe tobacco and cedar, licorice. Great mouthfeel, tannins less coarse than in the past, mostly resolved. Delicious, but if this bottle is any indication, our love will far outlast the wine.
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7/20/2023 - Collector1855 wrote: 94 Points
Consistent to my last note. Very nice mature, earthy St.Estephe. Masculine but not rustic.
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6/26/2023 - Goodwine4ever wrote: 93 Points
Un nez très végétal qui m'amène en Cabernet-Franc, le vin est hyper délicat et élégant. beau fruit mure frais, longueur respectable. Un Bordeaux mature à point et totalement délicieux.
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6/15/2023 - Sean Tay wrote: 94 Points
Medium garnet in colour. Pronounced nose intensity with notes of tobacco, smoke, sandal wood, charr wood, cedar, leather, wet forest, cooked black fruits. Mostly secondary and tertiary notes. On the palate, acidity is medium and medium tannin. Full bodied with pronounced intensity flavour. Decant for 1 hour. Not sure if this wine will improve further with ageing, but it’s already drinking well now.
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6/10/2023 - Buck M wrote: 93 Points
Grandmas 80th before ribs slaw scalloped potatoes . Aerated and decant with beautiful sour cherry granite dry aged leather. Tres beaunne!
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2/14/2023 - Tree512 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Easily the best bottle I've ever tasted of this wine. In perfect shape, loads of ripe red and black fruit with solid structure and resolving tannins. Long. Very satisfying. I'd drink these now but I think they'll age for 20+ more years.
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2/5/2023 - zachb1125 Likes this wine: 91 Points
Salil Bday
How did we keep putting this back so many times before finally opening it?? Notes in comparison to the 85 GL, seems to be incomplete, might have accidentally deleted some of it (sorry if you read this Salil)
Also white pepper, but less. A little more rich. Dark, dark chocolate, graphite, cedar, leather, tobacco, sour cherry,
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12/31/2022 - cshouston Likes this wine: 90 Points
Decanted for four hours before serving. The wine is fully mature at this point. Aromas of green bell pepper were dominant at first, but gave way to leather, sphagnum, damp earth, and a hint of licorice. Medium bodied and still bracingly acidic, the palate is tart blackberry and earth, with the slightest bit of tannin hanging in there, and a long, spicy finish.
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12/25/2022 - Nothung Likes this wine: 94 Points
In a great place right now. A truly beautiful wine. Everything a well-made, aged Bordeaux should be Opened about 5 hours before drinking and then decanted an hour or so, which was just right. Served with a dry aged standing rib roast on Christmas Day. Life is good!
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12/23/2022 - Kmmk Likes this wine: 97 Points
Superb! Bottles like this is why I drink aged Bordeaux and makes waiting worth it.
Deep garnet colour with just a tinge of amber around the edge. Aromas of dark fruits, tobacco leaf, and warm wood were enchanting yet subtle. No decanting was done and first sip was nearly perfect with the oak being a bit more pronounced than what I would have liked. Thirty minutes in the glass and everything came together. Deep, rich fruits of cassis and blackberries combined so elegantly with warm cedar-box and sous-bois. Excellent medium-bodied structure was sturdy and elegant at the same time. Rich oily coating on the tongue left a long lasting finish.
Not sure how much more it could improve but this has all the elements needed to last another decade or so. No need to open it now but no need to wait either. This bottle will get placed on my wall of fame.
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11/5/2022 - The Wine Monkeys Likes this wine: 92 Points
Notes of tar, cigar box, plum, smoke, forest floor. Beautifully integrated tannins, smooth finish and medium body. Lovely wine. Not sure about 10-20 years of life left but we loved it this evening.
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10/23/2022 - edjBoca Likes this wine: 93 Points
lighter than the last bottle, but opened up well over 2 hours and drank well until finished 90 minutes later...
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10/19/2022 - Philip67 Likes this wine: 95 Points
This is a real joy! Perfectly mature and ready to go. This is a dancer, not a boxer. Perfumed, elegant, red fruits more than black. Complex tertiary notes of leather and subtle oak, cedar and spice. Beautiful balance of primary and tertiary. The structure has softened to an elegant mid weight and moderate structure beauty. Still enough grip to provide interest. Long and complex. Drink now and I think this will perform well over the the next 5 to 10 years.
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9/25/2022 - rikipedia wrote: 85 Points
Deep Garnet that appears cloudy.
An intense black currant leaf on the nose gives up some redcurrant and underbrush.
A marked acidity on the attack, the fruit just manages to balance with ripe bright berries, more red-orientated than black. A very grippy texture that morphs into a coarse, burly tannin. Whilst the wine has a muscular feel, it feels a little underripe, similar to a feel of dissolved CO2.
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9/19/2022 - KenK wrote: 90 Points
Nice earthy dark aromas, but palate shows structure dominating the fruit. While highly drinkable and offers some nice complexity the wine is firm and somewhat drying at this stage.
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9/12/2022 - Collector1855 wrote: 95 Points
Wonderful nose, dark and masculine, forest floor, really in the best of Nothern Medoc (St.Estephe/Pauillac) style. Tannins fully resolved. Mid weight and precise. Perfect wine for a meat dish.
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8/27/2022 - WST Likes this wine:
I've opened one of these annually for our anniversary since 2003. This was by far the densest, compared to previous bottles. Cigar box and leather dominate the smoky dark red fruit and licorice. Intense attack persists into a long finish. Great wine. A blast from the past, I see it was purchased from WineCommune.
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8/14/2022 - EhrlichDY Likes this wine:
Outstanding showing. Popped to check for flaws, set aside for 30 minutes and then consumed over two hours. Fragrant and classic Bordeaux nose with loads of cedar, tobacco, and underbrush. Fully mature on the palate with earthy and loamy flavors and just a hint of dark fruit. The texture is incredibly soft and smooth with not a hint of tannin. Drink now for a mature showing.
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8/3/2022 - TexasBob Likes this wine: 93 Points
Medium ruby color with zero color degradation. Smoky red and black fruits on the nose. Tasty blended fruits with no one note standing out; the overall melange is delicious.
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5/1/2022 - bethel31 wrote: 91 Points
Wet forest floor, licorice and tinge of sweetness. Some spice, mushroom. Smooth mouthfeel and not much tannins left. Medium bodied. Drinking well.
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4/25/2022 - Mr T wrote:
This was quite good although not sure any better than the bottle drunk in 2017 as age starts to sap some of the fruit and vibrancy....still very good and in a perfect spot. I don't think this gets better and I enjoyed this over 2 nights without a decant. $55 very well spent
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4/9/2022 - CGandur Likes this wine:
Last bottle unfortunately. A delightful wine. Wouldn't have gotten any better, but still I am sad the stock finished.
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3/6/2022 - mbesche Likes this wine: 93 Points
Every thing you would want in a mature Bordeaux, the cedar, the
pencil. Only sorry that it’s my last bottle of the case. FWiW this
was best bottle
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2/14/2022 - Geoff Likes this wine: 96 Points
Impeccable bottle and cork. 3 hour slo-ox, decant and pour. Dark color without browning. Beguiling nose of dark fruit, berries, oak, vanilla and cedar, spices, mint, secondary and teriary notes. Medium to full bodied, balanced with sweet tannins muted but still present. Smooth mouthfeel. More of the nose on the palatte. Long, long finish. What an enjoyable well aged Bordeaux for Valentines Day. A heart for the heart.
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2/12/2022 - edjBoca Likes this wine: 94 Points
Opens over a couple of hours. Really classic L Bank notes of incense lead pencil and dark currant...good finish...medium body. A third of the bottle frozen and defrosted....beautiful dark fruits and smooth and long finish... upgraded to 94.
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1/29/2022 - Rani Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tasted blind. Decanted one hour before drinking. This was just tremendous. At first some greenness on the nose which made me think right bank, but the sous bois and black fruit were so well put together. Silky, open up nicely in the glass and was just a textbook Claret. Really at its peak right now.
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1/11/2022 - Everything Ahead wrote: 94 Points
One of our last 1996s ... One of the greatest pleasures for me of aging wine is the nostalgia elicited by opening up bottles from various times in your life. I first got serious about wine late in 1999, the year I bought this wine along with a bunch of other 95 and 96 Left bank Bordeaux. I was a poor grad student, and it was a big deal at the time to buy wines like Calon Segur, the Leovilles and Pichons etc. It has been interesting to see how wines like these change with age, and change they do.
Decanted for an hour or so: This had lovely mature Bordeaux notes of brandied dark cherries, blackcurrants, spices like clove and a hint of cinnamon, lactic-sour milk notes, and a noteworthy bit of green bell pepper, but to a degree that I liked. While this could age another few years easily and perhaps improve a little, I say drink this up in the near term. Sadly it was our last bottle. Ahh, life.
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12/27/2021 - Sean Tay wrote: 95 Points
Pronoucned nose intensity with nose of cooked black currant, black cherry, toast, earth, mushroom, fig, prune. Medium+ acidity and medium tannin. Medium bodied and long finish.
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12/25/2021 - popopdrops Likes this wine: 95 Points
Super fra første glass, vidunderlig bra. Samme behag dag 2. Med Trond og Ingunn. Jakt på Calon!
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12/25/2021 - Robert_Lyle Likes this wine: 95 Points
Perfect Claret, pencil lead, brambles, earth - text book. At its peak and appears destined to stay there for many years
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12/10/2021 - Philip67 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful aged Bordeaux, good to go. Still good fruit, oak still present, tertiary leather. Long complex
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11/6/2021 - RockinCabs wrote: 92 Points
Nose: Plum, berry, leather, tobacco and graphite. Fruit is just a bit on the soft side, but not overripe. Palate: classic palate with slightly cooked blackberry and plum, graphite, spices, and a garden vegetable note. Quite seamless and resolved. Finish: a bit unfocused at the end, but great persistence in the dark berries and graphite.
Solid performance, but it was outclassed by the Lynch that we had alongside tonight.
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10/22/2021 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
Better on the nose, with its secondary tobacco, cedar, underbrush, herb, and bright red berry nose, than on the medium-bodied, firm, lean, tannic, crunchy, crisp palate.
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10/21/2021 - iainlo@gmail.com wrote: 92 Points
Wonderful nose and seriously complex palate. Decanted an hour before drinking and consumed over two hour dinner. I’ve had many bottles of this wine and it has remained consistently good. At its plateau but not hurry to consume in my view
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10/19/2021 - Anders Danielsen Lie Likes this wine: 91 Points
Nydelig og klassisk Bordeaux-duft med kraftig seder, blyantspiss, tobakk, og sviskete rødbærsfrukt. Blitt ganske så silkemyk, mangler kanskje litt fokus i munn men det er tilgitt.
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10/9/2021 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Drank side by side with a '94 Togni. Always interesting to see old Calis that definitely have the old world influence next to actual old world wines. This was drinking great. Somm had mentioned a slightly cooler vintage which brings out more of the red fruits and the green. That's there. It's a restrained style of wine and at first it felt a bit flat to me with how much life was still in the Togni, but it just needed some time to open in the glass. Really enjoyable.
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9/3/2021 - Sean Tay Likes this wine: 96 Points
Pronounced nose with notes of mushroom, spices, cinnamon, black fruits, leather. Medium+ acidity and tannin. Decanted 2 hours. On the palate still having green note and grippy tannin. Ex Chateau, bottle condition and provenance is excellent. Drank during Assemblage 2020 dinner.
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8/27/2021 - WST Likes this wine:
I've opened one of these annually for our anniversary since 2003, and this was the best by far. Double decanted several hours before serving. The grapes for this bottle must have been slipped some steroids! The nose and palate were dense with licorice, pipe tobacco and leather. Its dense tannins have finally been tamed. The wine somehow straddled a complete lack of subtlety with careless elegance. I'd guess this has entered a long apogee. I'm happy to have many more.
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8/21/2021 - Harry Cantrell wrote: 93 Points
Garnet. Nose of dried herbs and tertiary flavors of spices, hint of black cherry. Taste similar. Overall, very good. Has slight tannins at end, suggesting if cellared well can age a while longer
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8/12/2021 - kevinpatrick Likes this wine: 94 Points
Cork Vault August Bottle Share--78 Giacosa Riserva, 85 Certan De May, 96 Calon-Segur and more (Charlotte, NC): 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Cabernet Franc, 25% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot
Slo-oxed but probably could have used a decant because the wine didn’t fully express itself for ~90 minutes but when it did it was beautiful. Fragrant nose of cedar, tobacco and leather. Well structured wine with finesse. Aged black cherry and currant flavors with fully integrated tannins allowing for an exceedingly pleasurable drinking experience. Nice medium-length finish. Right in its drinking window and singing given enough time to open up.
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8/12/2021 - iainlo@gmail.com Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is one of my favorite wines and I'm on my third case
This wine usually flies out of the gate with fireworks on the nose
But not this bottle, which started rather closed
But after an hour, it finally opened up with sweet ripe fruits on the nose, and a whiff of brett. On the palate it gives layers of ripe fruits, peppers, leather, spice. A wonderful wine with a long persistent finish
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6/12/2021 - felix98 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Exceptional bottle straight from the chateaux. Was well worth spending the premium for the great condition and storage.
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5/28/2021 - aerosol Likes this wine: 95 Points
The nose is amazing with wet forest floor and enough pencil shavings . The wine palate is elegant with dark fruit and pencil is recapitulate the palate with a good amount of acid structure. It’s in a great place and has more time, but it’s amazing now
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5/28/2021 - Lype Likes this wine:
Clean and pure nose with inky scents, the wine is fully resolved, seamless from front to rear palate lending this consistent silky and satiny character, the flauvors include a lovely mixture of ink, pencil shavings, cedar and tiny hints of Creme Brûlée, good fresh acidity and ripe tannins which are in the right place. This is an utterly charming delicate beauty, which is in a perfect place now.
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2/16/2021 - sastewart wrote: 91 Points
Served along with a 2003 Calon and a 90 Bon Pasteur. Green pepper, plum, cedar and leather on the nose. Still lean and a touch green - Dark fruit, herbs and tobacco with a decent finish. Not as good as the 2003. 91 points
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2/14/2021 - Brady D wrote:
Opened for Valentines. Decanted and tasted over two nights.
All the elements were there, but the wine never came together, just a stern pleasureless bottle, with food and on its own.
Maybe it was a leaf day, or something. Nothing drank particularly well that night.
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12/27/2020 - Diane (LI) wrote:
In my opinion, this is fully mature. Tannins are resolved, still has ripe fruit, showing Asian spices and espresso. Beautiful lingering finish. Showed much better than a 1996 Talbot.
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12/13/2020 - B Paul wrote:
Decanted and followed over a few hours. Decent, but not great. There is a green note on the nose that dominates and is a bit off-putting. The palate is fine, though still not what I was hoping for. Perhaps an off bottle, but it looked great and was purchased from a reliable source.
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12/12/2020 - hprphf wrote: 87 Points
Woody, watery, diluted. 87
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11/7/2020 - markcic Likes this wine: 92 Points
To my taste buds an aged Bordeaux is a beautiful thing and this wine did not disappoint. Opened about two and a half hours prior to dinner. There was dark fruit on the nose. The palate was dark berries, tree bark and coffee. The coffee flavors dominate the long finish. I really enjoyed this wine.
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10/22/2020 - Quiet Lion wrote: 94 Points
Decanted one hour. Gorgeous, full-bodied mature claret with earth, anise, burnt espresso. This bottle is perhaps a tiny bit oxidized with some bitterness on the finish, but otherwise enjoyable.
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10/3/2020 - Radboy wrote: 93 Points
Great drink. Showing all the flavors of its age. Drink up.
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9/17/2020 - AdamHitchcock Likes this wine: 92 Points
Medium ruby appearance
Med+ aromas of blackcurrant, blackberry, cedar, tobacco and leather. The wine is fully developed.
Dry, med+ acidity, med tannin, med alcohol, med+ body, med+ flavors of blackcurrant, tobacco and leather. Med+ finish.
Outstanding wine. Can drink now but has potential for further aging. Nicely balanced wine with the primary and tertiary flavors, acidity and tannins integrated.
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9/12/2020 - bordeauxmartini wrote: 96 Points
Wonderful. This still has a great life ahead and will drink well for at least 5 more years. Medium ruby colour, hint of black currant, forest floor, leather.
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8/24/2020 - WST Likes this wine:
Another fun bottle of ‘96 Calon Segur. We’ve been opening a bottle nearly every year since release. This was the most advanced of any bottle we’ve opened. The tannins, which just a few years ago were still impenetrable, are fully resolved. There was a great melange of currant, leather, licorice, five spice. Delicious with Flannery tenderloin seared in cast iron.
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8/23/2020 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 92 Points
Similar to my last note, but the intensity on this bottle had faded slightly. Still a very focused wine, but each flavour element lacked that bit of punch the previous bottle had. We didn't decant as long, which perhaps was a contributing factor. Classic claret with a stunning structure.
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8/16/2020 - Rick 4 Wine Likes this wine:
Drinking really nicely here but needed decanting and about 45 minutes of airtime. Early on it showed a little great and with perhaps a bit of bret. The green blew off and the bret became integrated. Most interesting to me is that while this wine is showing some particularation, we don’t see strong bricking yet. The edge is still ruby with no real straw characteristics. Seems like it’s setting up for a nice maturation.
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7/15/2020 - walkerjfw wrote:
Stay at Home dinner, Valerie made a rosemary chicken with potatoes. Thought to check in on this one , its been a few years. Splash decant, drank over 2 hours.
Medium garnet color, slight separation at the rim. Nose showing red currant, herbs, graphite, minerals and violets...a lot going on and very Bdx. Nose evolved a bit over first 20 minutes, but was very expressive right out of the bottle. Palate of faded black cherry, tobacco, leather. Smooth texture, tannins softened. Medium body and finish, nice nuance through mid and back palate.
In a great spot, not a heralded vintage so I went in with modest expectations. Classic Bdx notes of graphite/floral on the nose were pronounced with this bottle (a good thing for me...). Outperformed expectations and while not seeming to be fading I don't think there is reason to wait. Well stored bottles should drink at this level for several more years but not likely to improve much more.
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7/4/2020 - CraigC_UK Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted beside the 1995 with Coravin. Med garnet colour, stewed black fruit, chocolate and pronounced leather on nose and palate, integrated very soft tannins, med long length finish with leather carrying longest. Excellent wine, better than the 1995.
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6/22/2020 - gbow wrote:
8th of 12 and I would not expect to improve any further. Initially reticent but fruit did emerge with a lot of swirling. Still a great match for roast beef. One to drink up.
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5/30/2020 - BradE wrote:
Corked.
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5/17/2020 - hospad Likes this wine: 92 Points
Garnet color, clean nose, leather, spices, dark berries,well integrated tannins, very appealing palate, taste lingers on, god finish, keeps getting better as I continue,
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5/17/2020 - gbow Likes this wine:
Had this with beef wellington. Plenty of body but not much fruit or lift. Was followed by a 96 Angelus which was on a complete different level. Can’t see this improving - no rush but one to drink up.
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5/3/2020 - dpolzien Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is in a great place now and ready to go with limited decanting, with a musky nose and savory notes including dill on the finish. Fruit is still there and tannins still present. Paired nicely with a Flannery Beef Dry Aged NY strip. Noticed a bit more fruit on Day 2.
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4/24/2020 - Papies wrote: 92 Points
Needs a short decant, 20mins or so but not very long, to release it and then just sit back and enjoy the ride.
Much like many of the mid level 1996 left bank this is now a true joy for lovers of classic and well aged Bordeaux. This true to its St Estephe terroir is a touch leaner, mineral but also soft and silky, not as juicy as a St Julien 96 of course but a different tune of the great 1996 melody. The nose we must praise as it is truly exceptional and albeit a touch dusty at the end it’s just a aroma to go back over and over again. Soft, earthy, leather, floral and soft herby. Such a beautiful wine. 92
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4/7/2020 - OttawaB Likes this wine: 90 Points
Definitely seen better days. The fruit is gone, just an earthiness, tobacco, leather, cedar and some spices left. Still a drying dusty tannin mouthfeel (although mild). Medium minus acidity. Nice overall depth to the body still. Bitterness in the form of black tea.
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4/4/2020 - O.F. wrote:
Corked!!!
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3/31/2020 - yinha Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasted one year on - classic claret, great food wine. Probably plateau'd - not sure it gets much better from here, though may do so on the nose. Enjoy!
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3/13/2020 - pavel_p wrote: 88 Points
A fair bit of bottle variation here. Excellent cork barely stained beyond the very tip. Poured into decanter and drank over 2h or so. This was nowhere near the last bottle. Dominated by musty notes of forest floor and a fair bit of green too. Fresh yes, but obviously not a great bottle of Bdx today
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1/28/2020 - Sleepy Dave wrote:
Dark core, light ruby rim. Graphite, violet, chocolate, herbs and leather. Very focus. Good delineation, layers, complex, grippy tannin and very fine, lingering with superb persistence. Very Long, with dark chocolate, a very good bottle.
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1/27/2020 - SGoenophile Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lunch at Windsor Arms. Mid light ruby. Some sediment noted. Cork is about 40% saturated. Tannins well resolved, wine is soft and round. Good structure. Nice concentrated fruit, some soy notes, put on weight with more time in the decanter and glass. Has aged very well, no signs of fading. Yet another fine example of the lauded 1996 vintage from Bordeaux - so far I have yet to be disappointed.
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1/26/2020 - dream Does not like this wine: 82 Points
Nothing seemed to be wrong with these bottles but the wine is too lean and green for me tonight. Atomix.
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12/31/2019 - Collector1855 wrote: 94 Points
Wonderful tertiary nose with forest floor, farmyard and dark fruit. Medium- density palate, great with food, masculine tannins that are well resolved for a St.Estephe. Excellent food wine.
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11/26/2019 - Greg J wrote: 92 Points
- Garnet color with a long finish - Drank at Denis scotch tasting dinner to celebrate Matts 20 years at IBM. Was lovely pure intense smoky graphite fruit was buried below. Great length.
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11/9/2019 - salil wrote: 94 Points
Last bottle was so good I couldn't resist opening another. This one was even better - the same clean, fresh dark fruit but coming through more intensely, and with a mineral and dusty earthy character that was more prominent than I remembered. This is in such a great place right now, one to drink and hold.
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10/30/2019 - salil wrote: 93 Points
As classic and old-school as it gets. Love the aromatics here - a core of fresh black fruit framed by graphite, cedar wood, tobacco, and a bright green herbal/pyrazine note that adds complexity without detracting or overwhelming the other flavours. There's a sense of restraint here - the flavours take some time to emerge, needing an hour or so in the decanter, but the overall balance is fantastic and I'm glad I bought a case of this.
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10/5/2019 - Been There wrote: 93 Points
Cellared since release. Level well into neck, sound cork. Promising deep garnet color, no bricking. Bouquet similarly promising: ripe red fruits, cured tobacco, cedar, tertiary aromas from age. Looks like Bordeaux, smells like Bordeaux!
Palate is nearly a Xerox of the nose, with fruit, empty cedar cigar box, maybe some faint toasted nut, enough acidity to keep it fresh. Ample “grip” to quote the English. Fruit on the finish, which is medium-long.
Many 1996 Bordeaux were stubborn agers, and I had doubts at times. But the majority made it, and bottles in this condition are probably good for another 5+ years, though they won’t improve, IMO.
This is 12.5% abv, reflecting its era. If anything, it shows that (with a lot of time, anyway), high alcohol is not necessary for high quality or high pleasure. Personally, I could sit around and drink this for hours and remember what is special about Bordeaux.
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9/23/2019 - Troon Likes this wine: 92 Points
Decanted for 30 minutes. Initial impressions were a muted nose and strawberries and pepper on the palate. Let warm up from cellar temperature and breathe about another 30 minutes. More notes of aged Bordeaux on the nose. Tobacco and subtle red fruit on the palate. Wine continues to open as night progresses. In a great place, but I think it will age further without issue. Very enjoyable!
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9/23/2019 - short and confused wrote: 93 Points
Saturated red. Initially very tight but opened well over the course of 24 hours. Black cherry, leather, mint and tobacco. gripping tannins. Great cabernet character. Drank at a busy gathering at home so was not the perfect place to reflect but seems like it is in a good place now with a decant.
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9/21/2019 - KeatingCellar wrote: 88 Points
Slightly acidic
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9/7/2019 - Mountain Mark G Likes this wine: 94 Points
From my friend’s cellar, paired with flank steak. Marvelous bouquet, herbaceous with black fruit. Well balanced, seems to be in a great spot. Could certainly age longer but drinking great now.
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8/8/2019 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Much better than the last bottle we had. Still very young and I'd say a bit tight. Calon Segur though is quickly becoming a favorite in Bordeaux for me. Always punches above it's weight. This was also a bit tight, but can tell there's still lots of fruit and more cigar notes underneath. Enjoyable.
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7/23/2019 - ZaphodB Likes this wine: 94 Points
Brick red. Nose is really so elegant, has notes of coffee and just a whiff of vanilla. Mouthfeel is perhaps a little lighter than expected, but also more elegant than I would ever expect in Saint-Estèphe.
This is totally amazing and is really in it's perfect spot right now! But will probably also last very well for quite a few years more.
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7/16/2019 - Margaux Bro Likes this wine: 94 Points
In a nice spot right now. Super mellow, but with enough edge to last at least 5 more years. Still a bit of fruit but the terroir was fading a bit. Super enjoyable
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7/13/2019 - Nutty08 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Awesome Calon. Still very young and dark in the glass. Needs a few hours to soften but has a fantastic nose. Mint (bordering on medicinal) flint, and smoke are all there. Palate is dense, still fruity, with mostly cab secondary character. Lengthy finish. In its early drinking period but may still have some upside. Tannins still rather coarse and prominent.
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7/12/2019 - Paul D wrote: 91 Points
Nose at first is a touch reticent, but slowly opens to reveal dusty earth, red fruits. Light/medium bodied, earthy red fruit, firmish but fine tannic backbone, quite lean but attractive in an old school way, vibrant acidity, good length grippy finish.
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6/29/2019 - pavel_p Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pnp. Bottle in good shape with bottom neck fill. Much better showing than the “cold cellar” bottle I had a year ago. Simply wonderful with steak at home - if you had to request for a "last meal", what else could you possibly want... Beautiful nose with dark fruits, animal notes, cedar and a slight green touch. Mid bodied on the palate, dry and classic, some leather, integrated tannins. Wow - at peak in my eyes from a “normal” cellar. No need to wait any longer, as the cedar notes, which are beautiful now, will become more prominent when the fruit starts to fade...
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6/19/2019 - Rollerball wrote: 92 Points
More fruit and pleasure from 750 than the ‘95 offered from mag.
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6/17/2019 - depechemoroder Likes this wine: 94 Points
Dark earthy fruit peppered with graphite, coffee, and tobacco leaf. Mineral depth, pleasantly firm tannins, and wonderful balance. Robust, classic claret that shows creaminess and structure and is drinking beautifully now and will go for ages, though I don't suspect massive improvement. Needs at least a 90 min decant.
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5/2/2019 - Nanda wrote:
96/82 pairing. Cleary, and appropriately, the more youthful and primary of the two wines. I probably would have loved this on it's own, but in the flight it lacked the nuance and complexity of the '82. Give it time. Classic flavor profile and terrific balance of fruit and structure. Better 2024+
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5/2/2019 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Dinner at PST (Chicago, IL): This is a great bottle of Bordeaux, but it was just overshadowed by the greater bottle of 1982 next to it. The nose is pure, unadulterated green pyrazine, followed by more subtle expressions of the classic Bordelais elements -- a slight bit of leather, some dried fruits, and a really pleasant dustiness. Lots of acidity here, this is a very structural wine that doesn't seem anywhere close to resolution.
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4/17/2019 - Frabjous Likes this wine: 92 Points
Had with seafood at Passionfish for my sixtieth birthday with my lovely wife Caroline.
Yum!!!
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3/16/2019 - Diane (LI) wrote:
On the nose, there is black cherry, florals, animal, and tobacco. The palate is bright with cherry, minerals, and tobacco. Tannins are soft, and there is a lingering finish. This is the second 1996 Left Bank that I opened within the past couple of months, and both are drinking well now.
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3/10/2019 - Sonoffalstaff wrote: 93 Points
See earlier note. In a great place now
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2/25/2019 - David_K wrote: 89 Points
Thought this was surprisingly evolved. Funky leather on the nose, benefits from decanting still. Not insignificant bricking. Fresh in the mouth but don't go looking for fruit here. If my bottle was representative, drink up.
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2/24/2019 - mgreitzer Likes this wine: 91 Points
No fruit. Tobacco, gravel and tar. Beautiful balance and a soulful, contemplative wine.
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2/16/2019 - rocknroller wrote: 92 Points
Very dark garnet red. Decanted for 90 minutes and open for 2 hours before drinking. Drank 2 glasses over an hour plus. Love the nose, funk, damp, perfumed, lots of French oak tones, graphite and dark fruits. The palate is full bodied, layered, lots of graphite, cassis, wood, good length, round tannins that are softened. Needs the time, getting better in glass. 91+ to 92pts.
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2/10/2019 - gbow Likes this wine: 89 Points
6th of 12. This one had lost most of its fruit, surprisingly so. Very pencil, graphite, not much leather or tobacco either. Will put this down to the bottle and not rushing the others yet.
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2/9/2019 - Duncan H Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good but not super-sensational... we drank this alongside a 2006 Batailley and, to be honest, we probably preferred the Batailley's (relatively) youthful vigour.
This did develop in the glass tho and was really quite fine, complex and tertiary, but perhaps a bit muted.
I'm curiously looking forward to tasting my next bottle of this...
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1/20/2019 - Food Daddy wrote: 90 Points
1hr decant, took another hour to open, went with raist chicken and harissa carrots alot better than on its own. I don't think this is built for too many more years
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12/31/2018 - bstueber wrote:
New Years 1/1/2019
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12/20/2018 - Nostromo99 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Sublime. Really powerful nose - classic developed Bordeaux with some primary fruit wafting through (no need to stick your nose in the glass as it oozes out, filling the air around). Same in the mouth - this wine is well and truly in that gorgeous sweet spot where the sweet primary fruit marries with the more savoury developed characters. Long finish with just the tiniest hint of grip - overall, the wine is very smooth, the tannins nicely resolved.
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12/12/2018 - jdlee1232 wrote: 95 Points
Just right
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12/9/2018 - Évergète wrote: 90 Points
Un Saint Estephe tannique comme il se doit et encore assez jeune. La maturité n’est pas son point fort et le fruité est en retrait mais en revanche il se montre concentré et capable de vieillir encore. Un style un peu brut.
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11/4/2018 - retired_and_roving wrote: flawed
Q4 - 2018 Tasting - Aged Bordeaux (Pre-1997) (New York, NY): 13 of 19 wines tasted double blind. The nose on this one was straight up musty cardboard boxes in the basement. I actually couldn't get past the nose to even taste it. Many others did not think this was corked, just old - so I maybe in the minority here. However it was the only wine that did not receive any votes. Group vote - 0 pennies
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11/4/2018 - MC2 Wines wrote:
Q4 Wine Club - Aged Bordeaux (Our apt): Wine #13: This very easily could have been flawed as well although the group was a bit split on that. It was certainly much tighter than I would have expected and I found it almost flavorless. For others they got some cardboard in it. Regardless it was not a well loved wine being one of the only no-votes we've had in awhile. (0 pennies)
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10/28/2018 - angelcyn wrote: flawed
Sadly flawed, cellar floor taste and nose, cork OK ?
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10/24/2018 - leerand wrote: 95 Points
Very nice and smooth.
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9/16/2018 - Verb Likes this wine: 94 Points
consistent with my last tasting note - beautifully developed Bordeaux that is drinking very well now
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9/15/2018 - Dark Horse Likes this wine: 91 Points
Still plenty of structure for its age. Nice fragrant nose of cigar, leather and a hint of greens. Opened up nicely over 4 hours with some aeration. Medium body with dark chocolate and hints of cigar & greens on the palate and good finish. Very enjoyable, but did not evolve as much in the glass as I’d hope, particularly the mid-palate.
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9/9/2018 - WST Likes this wine:
We've opened one of these on our anniversary for over a decade. Each subsequent bottle seems to improve as the years pass. This was no exception, and we opened it last night with friends two weeks past the anniversary date.
I double decanted for sediment and quickly recorked 4 hours before serving. In retrospect, it could have used more air, as it improved with time in the glass.
Initially, the reticent nose showed currant, tobacco, licorice, wet leather and moist rich soil. It opened up after quite a bit after thirty minutes or so.
The previously firm tannins have really integrated. Medium bodied; the palate was a bit of a beast in the past, but is now more elegant, supple and subtle.
I'm happy to have enough of these to open on our anniversary for decades.
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8/21/2018 - aagrawal wrote: 93 Points
Bordeaux Wine Dinner (Wine Kitchen, SF): Cork removed with Durand easily. Aromatic, mature black fruit, leafy mulch; balanced medium bodied, medium-plus acid, integrated tannins, a tad thin right now through the midpalate; medium finish. Very respectable, ready to drink now, but doesn’t blow me away. 91
With air, really nice and good complexity. This holds up well, ready now but with decades left. 92-94
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6/30/2018 - Grenik Likes this wine: 91 Points
A very nice aged Bdx. Hints of floral and earth notes on the nose. Red fruit primary on palate, but a lot of subtle flavors that come and go throughout the night. Rested an hour before service but continued to developed over the next few. Smoke, cedar, pine, boysenberry.
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6/17/2018 - Sonoffalstaff Likes this wine: 94 Points
I’m with Fredo on this and can’t add to his description. Finally a 96 that I loved.
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6/10/2018 - Outplaying wrote:
Nice wine, but outdone by the 82 Beychevelle tonight. A little leaner and more green notes.
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6/6/2018 - OenoEd wrote: 92 Points
Subtle herbs, with a hint of spearmint on the nose. This is tight and lean, even with a 2 hour decant, thyme and sorrel and cherry pits. Medium finish, without additional complexity. I wont open a bottle for 3 years.
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6/6/2018 - Vietty Likes this wine:
Pop and pour. Nice color: ruby with slight orange rim, minimal sediment (thanks Papie for the feedback). Initially a musty nose but blew off to reveal a really pleasant aroma that reminded me of walking in a forest in the early morning (damp earth, wet leaves). Evolved slightly during dinner and was best about 30 minutes in. Red fruited with tobacco notes. Classic Bordeaux from what I've read and my limited experience. To my taste a good balance of maturity but still retaining fruit. Even better than the 1982 La Lagune that I enjoyed 6 months ago.
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6/2/2018 - fred o. Likes this wine:
PnP. Ruby color with some bricking. Intoxicating nose, earthy/slight maple note. Palate deep, a nice herbal/green pepper note with tobacco, great acidity. Wonderful, fully mature to my taste but going strong and no sign of fading to me at least. one of my WOTNs. Thanks Vietty. 94 pts
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5/26/2018 - Papies wrote: 92 Points
Decanted and served. Beautiful wine especially if like us one loves aged , old school bdx and 1996 remains a top vintage for us, almost one we buy blind. And this C-S was no exception. We had this 6 yrs ago (Papies 91) and this has since evolved superbly.
Well secondary, earthy, tobacco and cedar on the nose. Herby for sure but with healthy fruit on the palate and softer, silky tannin. Very pretty now and we do think this is now at peak. Solid 92-93. Must buy more.
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5/6/2018 - peterchoy wrote: 93 Points
Appearance: Bright and clear, medium ruby in color, with garnet rims and legs.
Nose: Clean, with medium (+) intensity aromas of black fruit of blackcurrant and blackberry, maturity notes of mushroom, mineral notes of earth, kernel notes of chocolate, pungent spice of tobacco leaf, oak notes of cedar, animal notes of leather. The wine is developing.
Palate: Dry with medium acidity, medium tannin of ripe and fully-integrated texture, the wine has medium alcohol, medium body and medium (+) intensity flavors of black fruit of blackcurrant and blackberry, oak notes of cedar, animal notes of leather, maturity notes of tobacco. The wine has a medium finish.
Conclusion: Very good quality St-Estephe with good intensity and a rather complex nose, showing good development but still plenty of fruit and mineral, the wine has good structure, vibrancy and the tannin is seamlessly integrated with good concentration on palate as well as a reasonable length on the finish. It is ready to drink now and can maintain for another 3-5 years.
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4/30/2018 - Blauweiss Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very elegant and Classic red bdx. Loads of cassis, wet leaves, leadpencil on the nose. On the palate medium+ bodied, great balance and length with smooth tannin and with some air, fantastic cabernet fruit. Very nice!
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4/6/2018 - madalyn Likes this wine: 93 Points
had with venison, great match
drinking well now
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4/2/2018 - dbkitc wrote: 95 Points
This continues a winning thread of 1996 Bordeaux tasted over the past six months. Pure, classic and satisfying in every sense. The fruit has sweetened, the structure is supporting without being noticeable - a complete wine. Probably the best Calon Segur I have ever tasted. (95)
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3/31/2018 - yinha Likes this wine: 91 Points
Subtle but beguiling and classic nose (mushrooms, must, rich earth); on the palate still somewhat youthful and tannins not yet fully resolved. Overall, certainly enjoyable but it seems it has not quite peaked yet.
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3/23/2018 - pavel_p wrote: 90 Points
Bottle from cold cellar with excellent in neck fill. Garnet with slight browning towards translucent rim. Initially closed this needs a good hour in the decanter to open up. A fairly austere wine (well, this is St. Estephe) with dark fruit, leather and tobacco notes and a fair bit of cedar held in check by dusty medium (-) tannins. Short to medium finish.
I actually do enjoy this style of traditional claret but I can get this kind of experience with a good '88 or '94 left banker. For a fairly young 3rd growth from a very good vintage like 1996, I find the lack of fruit concentration, which reveals those prominent cedar notes and the dusty tannins rather disappointing.
PS: Wife scolded me for opening such a wine on a Friday evening...
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3/10/2018 - DustyTannins Likes this wine: 95 Points
Consumed on a Saturday night with grilled filet mignon (and Béarnaise) and Brussels sprouts. Fun to drink this one long and slow and track its evolution in the glass. Started with funk/must, followed by a strong nose and taste of menthol, with a subtle tinge of citrus fruit. The menthol evolved into beautiful sweet tobacco notes reminiscent of the wonderful smell of a fresh pack of Dunhills after ripping off the foil (RIP my days of burning heaters). Tobacco notes persisted for a long time. Once the wine really opened up, a beautiful core of red fruit emerged, complemented by beautiful leather, earth, fruitcake/baking spices,and some subtle oak/vanilla. Finished its evolution with a long phase of pure, dusty, palate-coating cinnamon that left me wanting more. A lovely wine that is just beautiful now but could stay in the cellar for years hence. Buy more!
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2/27/2018 - ephorn Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very distinctive nose of bell pepper and smoke that is mirrored on the palate. I love the savory complexity! This is beginning to fade so I would consume it over the next couple years.
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2/26/2018 - Verb Likes this wine: 94 Points
brick with slight tinges of orange on the rim - classic old Bordeaux nose of leather, tobacco and cassis - beautifully balanced mouth with just the right amount of residual tannins - very nice long finish - consistent with my last notes, I think this wine is drinking at its peak right now - much more developed than the 96 Montrose that we had at the same time - enjoy Calon now, hold Montrose
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2/2/2018 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Solid, but so earthy holy Jesus. Tobacco, leather central, cedar, baking spices, bell pepper big time, black cherry. Earth earth & earth.
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2/2/2018 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 92 Points
This took several hours to open up, initially quite closed. Minerals, espresso and green peppers on the nose. Earth with root vegetable flavors, dark black cherry fruit, evolving but not mature tannins. More approachable than my last bottle years ago.
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1/21/2018 - Julian Marshall Likes this wine: 92 Points
At peak: remarkably sensual and beguiling for a St.Estephe, with layers of blackberry, blackcurrant and sweet notes of red cherry which unfold before a long, lingering finish. It should hold for several more years. With the 88 thi is one of the best Calons I've tasted.
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1/16/2018 - Derek Darth Taster wrote: 91 Points
Belated birthday session for Davyd. Tasted blind. Poured from bottle over 2 hours.
Appearance is clear, medium intensity, ruby colour. Thin legs.
Nose is clean, medium+ intensity, with aromas of green bell peppers, green chilli, blackcurrant, blackcurrant leaf, earth, licorice, sweet blackberries. Developed.
On the palate, dry, high acidity, medium alcohol (12.5%), integrated medium+ tannins, full body. Medium+ flavour intensity, with flavours of green bell peppers, sweet blackberries, blackcurrant, cool menthol, chalky minerality, slight licorice. Long finish.
Very good quality. I was guessing old school New World Bordeaux blend Cab dominant about mid 90s. Certainly shows a good vintage Left Bank Bordeaux. Still can last another 2-3 years. But certainly at peak and time to drink and enjoy.
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12/15/2017 - Nanda wrote: 93 Points
Wines with the HDH Auction: Wow, such a great and compelling nose of plums, cigar ash, smoke and some earthy funk notes. Yum, really good sweet plum fruit on entry. A little stern and tannic on the mid-palate with some iron notes coming on strong. Upside from here after 5 years.
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12/15/2017 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
HDH auction tasting at Spiaggia; 12/14/2017-12/16/2017 (Chicago, IL): A fairly dense and taut Bordeaux, with a nose that shows lots of ashy character. Tobacco? There are some of the usual black fruits on the nose as well. The palate is very classically structured, with a nice bit of herbaceousness as well as fruit. It's got a generous portion of earth as well. This is a bit more austere and structural than the Pichon Baron that we had as well.
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12/2/2017 - NJwineguy wrote: 82 Points
Past prime. Little fruit
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11/3/2017 - TexasBob Likes this wine: 94 Points
Medium ruby color. Delicious nose of musty cellar and red raspberry. As it opens, dusty (slightly sweet) cherry notes with solid tannins develop. The end palate to finish showcases a strong bitter orange zest note at the finish. Still drinking quite well with no sign of fade.
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10/11/2017 - Mr T wrote:
PNP...gorgeous mature Bdx, still vibrant fruit and tannis resolved.....pleasantly surprised at how forward and not at all overly dry or earthy. Really well balanced
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9/30/2017 - CHINACAT wrote: 90 Points
This bottle was very primary and tight. Plenty of red and dark fruit and nice purity, but lacked complexity and was a bit harsh. Has potential to be very good, but needs time.
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9/23/2017 - pipetree Likes this wine:
Clear medium ruby with a garnet tint, with a medium almost clear rim. Pronounced Caramelized wet leaves, Green chilly Pepper. Developing. Medium+ sour plum, green chilly pepper and a delicate hint of grape seed and cedar/sawdust like sweet woodiness. Long medium+ dark bitter chocolate and with a hint of sweet dried wood aftertaste. Dry, High acidity, medium+ ripe but still grippy tannin, medium alcohol, medium body. Good balance between the acidity and fruit, good length, good intensity, good complexity. Can drink now, and can be aged for 3-5 more years.
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9/22/2017 - Honeyburst Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very pleasant and very classic indeed. No signs of peaking out but vibrant and yet balanced
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9/18/2017 - Verb Likes this wine: 94 Points
brick with tinges of orange on the rim - classic old Bordeaux nose of leather, tobacco and cassis - beautifully balanced mouth with just the right amount of residual tannins - nice long finish - perfect with grilled lamb chops - this wine along with the 96 Montrose and the 96 Pichon Lalande have changed my opinion of the 96s from just a good vintage to a great vintage that is drinking at its peak right now
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9/7/2017 - LWI wrote: 92 Points
Elegant, deep and complex nose; good spine to it, yet rounded. unfortunately a slightly weakish mid-palate.
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9/2/2017 - Vinophiliac559 wrote: 93 Points
92-93 Old Bordeaux nose, green pepper, pencil lead, earthy, not much fruit left. Palate was refined with well integrated and resolved tannin. Drinking great at 21 yrs old.
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8/23/2017 - Verb Likes this wine: 93 Points
dark red with brick edge - bright red fruit nose with cedar and lead capsule overtones (could have mistaken this for a Graves) - bright up-front acidity, tannins mostly resolved but still nicely in presence - medium body but nice long finish - for those who appreciate old Bordeaux, this is drinking beautifully now - should hold for many more years, but not sure it's likely to develop that much more than this
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8/15/2017 - Quiet Lion Likes this wine: 95 Points
Gave this one a two-hour decant and absolutely loved it. Leather, orange peel, white pepper, black fruit, toasted oak. Perfectly aged. I haven't had much St.-Estephe but I will be having more.
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7/8/2017 - pavel_p wrote: 90 Points
1996 horizontal Bordeaux tasting (Singapore): A fairly dark garnet, sous bois, wood spices, dark fruit, a bit astringent, medium (-)tannins, medium finish. 90
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3/27/2017 - Burgnick wrote: 91 Points
Medicine, forest, cedar wood, dark fruit and green pepper on the nose. Palate is expressive with freshness and high acidity. Drinking well now.
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3/19/2017 - PinotAnyone? wrote: 92 Points
Was nervous about this one. Opened up over two hours to reveal a delightful funk. Thoroughly enjoyed. Tasted side by side with a 1996 Dominus and the difference was striking. The Calon Segur was elegant and revealed itself slowly while the Dominus was big and powerful and quite delicious. Wish I had more!
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3/4/2017 - Andrewbdc wrote: 93 Points
The wine is deep garnet in colour.
The nose is clean with pronounced complex aromas of dried fruit, cedar, tobacco, undergrowth, animal. A real bouquet, fully developed.
Dry, fresh medium (+) acidity, fine, chalky medium (-) tannins, medium alcohol, medium body, pronounced, complex flavours similar to the nose, long finish.
Outstanding, mature claret, drinking beautifully now. Beautiful balance between fruit, tannins, acidity and alcohol. Great complexity and concentration, long, long finish. This won't get any better and although it is unlikely to decline rapidly, I wouldn't wait too long before drinking up. The aromas and flavours are now all tertiary and may start to fade.
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3/3/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 90 Points
HDH Magnum Dinner (Del Frisco - Chicago IL): Magnum. all black fruit with spice hints and very good concentration. Moderate length with good+ overall balance. I think was put at a disadvantage having Dunn 1995 in the flight.
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3/2/2017 - Yagil wrote: 91 Points
1990s Bordeaux wines tasting (at my home): dark translucent red-brown
quality ripe dark fruits nose with smoked meat and tobacco notes , truffles hints
medium bodied, soft firm tannins, well balanced and harmonised, good structure and complexity, tobacco, earth, truffles, long finish and enjoyable aftertaste
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2/14/2017 - DrinkBordeaux wrote: 93 Points
Very good on PnP, but certainly improved with some aeration. Deep, dark ruby color. An earthy nose of sweet black fruits, olive tampenade, barnyard, anise, leather, and dark chocolate. Dark and brooding on the palate, but quite lively. Really had an earthy streak to it. The structure is sound, with firm tannins. Medium level of acidity. Good length on the finish, with just a hint of bitterness. Should have several years left of good drinking, and I expect this to improve. Not yet at its peak of maturation.
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2/12/2017 - Psdycp Likes this wine: 92 Points
Elegant and fragrant bouquet of cigar box, cedar, leather, stony black fruits and dry herbs with a touch of toasty bell pepper. Very mysterious and refined. Palate echoed the nose with flint and graphite notes from entry to finish which is rounded with ripe tannins and 30 secs finish. Med-bodied with balanced in structure. Mid-palate is somewhat flat initially but after an hour in the decanter, mineral and black fruits emerged to fill in the gap.
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1/1/2017 - haluyoung Likes this wine: 90 Points
过了20年依旧活力充沛。不算很复杂的酒，果香、森林气息、菌菇、烟草香气。但是经过时间的磨砺单宁变得柔顺细腻，入口的感觉相当舒服，有着老酒特有的酒香。
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12/26/2016 - gbow Likes this wine: 90 Points
Black currant and pencil. Powerful and long. Harmonious. No sign of fading. Beautiful.
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12/10/2016 - Milos Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark red fruit with earthy mineral undertones; classic St. Estephe; still quite primary and so easy to drink; tannins resolved.
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10/26/2016 - VAGenius Likes this wine: 94 Points
Nose of red currant and tobacco with a hint of sweet cola. Palate has layers of currant, red leather, and gravel. Gentle but complex tannins intersperse with lots of rich earth along with white pepper, plum, and leather. A profound wine for our 20th wedding anniversary.
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10/25/2016 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 93 Points
1996 Bordeaux Blind: Brooding, coffee grounds, black currant, and well pronounced bell pepper. Powerful. Dense and brooding on the palate. Cool blackberry and black currant. Very good. Close call for wine of the night...
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10/11/2016 - Luvwine1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Really lovely. Not especially intense nor long, but smooth, elegant, typical nose, and a pleasure to drink now--no need to wait on this to me. We put in a decanter, but it drank well from the get go.
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10/8/2016 - swyang wrote: 94 Points
I must admit, young Calon Segur always disappoints me, however the few times that I have tried 20years+ it, each time, blew me away. Wow!!~ this was some kind of 'Tour de Force' here. Super dark violet color not even bricking at the rim yet, however the aromas were super profound, profound and profound. I kept smelling into the large glass as on every inhaling I had a feeling to get ever deeper into its soul almost making me contemplate just from the nose... The perfect balance between the yielding fruits, coming up earth/terroir providing a majestic profile was definitely masculine and not the opposite. Huge depth of leather, dark fruits, beautifully integrated tannin, medium+ texture which got denser and more profound as the bottle went down but not thick nor fat. The back bone freshness was simply awesome as a fresh wind coming from nowhere. Just a personal note; I had it open and sat in the cellar for a good 6~7 hours, but not decanted, before pouring. Cheers,
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9/6/2016 - fcxj wrote: 88 Points
Meh.
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9/3/2016 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 93 Points
We had 2 bottles. Both were pristine with into neck fills. Lovely ruby color. The wine needed only about 15 minutes in the glass to come around fully. Blackberries, tobacco and leather, red fruits, some Cedar and graphite. Sweet long tannins. Very smooth. The finish was a relatively short at 15 seconds for a wine of this quality and that was disappointing given how excellent it was in all other respects.
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9/3/2016 - Andrea1975 wrote: 91 Points
Tasted together with Cos 1996, Leoville Barton 1996 and 1995, and Ducru B. 1995. Wine is medium ruby with some hint of age at rim. Evolved nose with very little fruit but intense notes of vegetal, green pepper, cigar box, and leather. Crisp acidity, moderate alcohol and still-grippy tannins give structure to the body. Persistent in the mouth, but not as long as I imagined. It's all about secondary and tertiary flavors (tobacco, cedar, coffee) with black fruit underneath. Enjoyable now or over the next few years (not much further evolution to be expected).
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8/24/2016 - hdchappy wrote: flawed
This bottle was toast, tasted like red wine vinegar.
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8/8/2016 - Valbonne Likes this wine:
Love. Great value. Perfect wine with roast fowl.
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7/21/2016 - Geoff Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious wine. Plenty of dark berries, tannins still present. Sweet oak and smoke , long finish. Very nice.
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7/10/2016 - Jeffsta wrote:
Finally coming around at age 20. Classic old school left-bank Bordeaux - leather, cedar.
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7/6/2016 - Valbonne Likes this wine: 93 Points
Very solid, traditional CS. Not spectacular but drinking very well right now.
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6/17/2016 - bjr11 wrote:
Apparently my friend and I need to learn a bit more about the nuances of Bordeaux (based on my reading others' reviews)! We did not care for this, it seemed to have no fruit, and didn't get much better after decanting. I would have guessed it was past its prime, yet others feel it's still young! Maybe just a sub par bottle?
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4/30/2016 - mdefreitas wrote: 92 Points
Very good, but this is no where near ready. The structure is still a bit obvious and the flavors a bit un-evolved. Needs time, but will be very nice, I think.
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4/28/2016 - J3r0me H@n wrote: 94 Points
This is a bottle I can honestly say changed the way I thought about wine.
Nose was full of crushed velvet, wet forest, dark fruit, and a medicinal herbal quality.
Palate is a medium body and soft. Stone-Mineral flavors with very dark fruits and a finish that leans herbal. Well-balanced and turned me into a Bordeaux lover.
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3/25/2016 - Collector1855 wrote: 92 Points
During a Left Bank 1996 tasting dinner. Expressive nose of earth, forest, dark fruit, complex and clearly Medoc. On the palate this is medium-light bodied, there is a whole in the mid palate unfortunately. Just when it should build it dies down, Medium-short finish. Very drinkable but not a grand wine.
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3/13/2016 - AllRed wrote: 94 Points
Second Sunday Group: 1996 Bordeaux (high end) (Marty's): Opens with a dominant green/herbal quality, along with dark fruit, iron and tobacco. Medium-bodied with flavors of red and dark fruit, herbs and spice box. There's good underlying acidity. Lingering finish. Very expressive and complex. 94-95 pts.
Double blind:
My #1, Domino's #1
Group #2, 45 pts
Single blind guess: Pichon Lalande- I remarked fairly early on that we were drinking Bordeaux and that if there were a Pichon Lalande in the line up, it was wine H. There were a couple of others that had the telltale PLL green notes too, but they were strongest in wine H so I was sure this was it. Anyway, this is drinking very well now and will hold for a quite a few years, I'm sure.
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2/21/2016 - llink wrote: 93 Points
Beautiful nose of lead pencil, cedar and black fruits. Very young palate, perfect balance, lovely weight and some acidity to make it interesting. Long finish
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2/15/2016 - Tree512 wrote: 90 Points
Classic and satisfying, lots of deep red/black fruit and resolved tannins. Not a huge amount of complexity, but correct, mature and ready to go although it has a long plateau ahead.
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1/30/2016 - WineDr. Does not like this wine: 85 Points
Full case bought upon release in 1999 and stored in its wooden case under climate-controlled conditions since then.
Had 3 bottles over the past 4 days. All were aerated and decanted.
All 3 bottles presented the same: Earthy bouquet, minimal browning in color, moderate sediment, and austere and tart to the palate. Clearly beyond its peak, but not over-the-hill. Overall, quite disappointing.
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12/28/2015 - RyanWu wrote: flawed
It's undrinkable already. Nothing there........... It's always kept in temp controlled cellar. I am so surprised that this type of Bordeaux should have long life, but I only see a undrinkable wine here. So disappointed!!!
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12/27/2015 - Woodway Mike wrote:
This has a lot of black fruit, leather, tar.
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11/13/2015 - hkbob Likes this wine: 92 Points
Mature Bordeaux. Reddish-brown with good clarity. Meaty nose with dried leaves and earthy tones. Medium-weight with some austerity on the finish. Overall a decent mature claret. On it's downslope so time to drink up!
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11/11/2015 - chefdilletante wrote:
Restrained nose. Pronounced woodiness, assertive iron character dominates. Tannins are not resolved. While I expect more power than finesse in St. Estephe, I'm finding the whole presentation here a tad rustic. I'd hold for a while. This isn't the first '96 I've found not-quite-ready-for-primetime this year.
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11/8/2015 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 93 Points
Magnum opened to enjoy Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. On Sunday night the magnum showed slight oxidation from being stored in the refrigerator both Friday and Saturday, nose of cassis, black cherry, plum and cigar box, more of the same on the palate, the previously subdued fruit was very open and approachable on Sunday night, medium/big body, very tasty with Meaty Lasagna, much better wine than Friday night, mouth filling fruit, good complexity, long, long finish. I think this wine is at it's peak based on enjoying the last three nights.
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11/6/2015 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 91 Points
Magnum opened to enjoy Friday, Saturday and Sunday night. Lots of tobacco, cassis, herbs, plum, and fig on the nose, more of the same on the palate, subdued fruit gives the impression of tasty but not rich, medium/big body, long, long finish.
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11/1/2015 - Yagil wrote: 93 Points
at dinner time, 3 hours advanced opening: dark red-purple, tertiary dark fruits aroma with leather-earthy-dusty-stony notes, soft firm integrated tannins, rich fruity flavours, excellent complexity, well balanced and harmonized, excellent long finish, lingering seducing nose
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10/26/2015 - jeanrcote wrote: 89 Points
Herbaceous, herbaceous and herbaceous in aroma and taste, licorice and plum in final. Trouble with St-Estephe appellation!!!
JC
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10/25/2015 - Radboy wrote: 93 Points
Drinking quite well. A mature claret with all the subtle nuances that come with time. Better after the 2 hour mark.
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10/20/2015 - Yagil wrote: 92 Points
dark red-purple, tertiary dark fruits aroma with leather-earthy notes, soft firm integrated tannins, rich fruity flavours, excellent complexity, well balanced and harmonized, excellent finish
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10/18/2015 - Yagil wrote: 92 Points
dark red-purple, tertiary dark fruits aroma with leather-earthy notes, soft firm integrated tannins, rich fruity flavours, excellent complexity, well balanced and harmonized, excellent finish
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10/2/2015 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 91 Points
1990's Cali Cabs vs Bordeaux tasting. Tobacco, grilled meat, black fruit, lean and elegant, savory, good acidity, focused, still tight and closed. Needs more time for my taste. Very good, but not big. No hurry to drink my other bottles.
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10/2/2015 - andrewdodd86 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Mid 90's Bordeaux vs. California Tasting: Old, prune/dried fruit, fully mature, dusty. Good, but left me wanting younger and more vibrant. Drink up. Served blind @ Bordeaux vs. Cali Cab tasting
Post: once unveiled, I remember my previous bottles being younger and more enjoyable.
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9/29/2015 - Nicholas81 wrote: 88 Points
A rather big and heavy wine with intense coffee and tobacco on the nose. Palate was very slightly sweet with cassis, leather and more coffee and tobacco. The structure was a bit lacking and the palate mouthfeel was very resolved with almost no harsh or intrusive tannins. I felt that there was a lack of focus and direction in the wine. The finish was moderately long.
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9/28/2015 - dbkitc wrote: 89 Points
I am beginning to think that I don't favor wines from this Chateau. Extremely masculine and smoky, there is sweetness on the attack and a nice mouthfeel. The finish is dominated by wet tobacco leaf. Stern stern stern. Has entered its plateau for drinking but no rush. (89)
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9/20/2015 - jww Likes this wine: 89 Points
opened and drank
nice nose clean dark fruits
taste was fuity blackberries leather coffee
smooth finish
di not change very much after an hour was maybe slightly better when opened
a very good bordeaux
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9/11/2015 - RichardP wrote: 89 Points
Pop and pour. Menthol and something green on the nose. On the palate, cherry, currants, green herbal notes, and hints of bitter tobacco and beef bouillon on the medium to long finish, with no noticeable tannin and moderate acidity. This shows pleasant aged Bordeaux flavors, and there is nothing wrong with the wine, but it isn't special either, and the quality doesn't match the price. Looking at the notes here, it appears that there is significant bottle variation, all the way from poor to excellent. Perhaps this one is just at the lower end of the spectrum.
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8/25/2015 - WST Likes this wine:
Becoming less hard edged, with tannins now softening. Dark berry fruit, leather, tobacco box; medium bodied. Seems to be entering a long drinking window.
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8/18/2015 - wineordeath Likes this wine: 92 Points
Gorgeous nose. Cedar, rich berry fruit. Lovely. 92 - 93pts
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8/14/2015 - ETT95 wrote: 91 Points
This Calon Ségur is young, tannic and earthy. Shows characters of old wine yet approachable. Adequate fruit and chewy. Tannin is not harsh and the wine improve in terms of smoothness as time goes.
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7/18/2015 - hkm520240 wrote: 92 Points
Chateau Calon Segur Vertical Tasting (Crystal Wines shop, Valley Point): From a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot. Decanted for 30 mins.
Dark garnet core. Expressive nose of fresh tobacco, cigar box, herbs, blackcurrant, cherry and licorice.
Palate is soft and refine, still showing some freshness, along with blackcurrant, capsicum, dried herbs and tobacco. Fine velvety tannins. Drinking well now.
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5/22/2015 - macker100 wrote: 93 Points
Nose of graphite, blackberries. More dark cherries than the '95 tasted alongside, and much more approachable. Very smooth and in its prime.
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5/6/2015 - Paul D wrote:
1996 Bordeaux at RSJ (RSJ, Southwark): Nose is beefy, with rd and black berry fruit. Medium/full bodied on the palate, chunky, beefy black fruit, and odd stalky note on a slightly firm finish. OK **.
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4/24/2015 - falp wrote: 91 Points
good, not awesome
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4/17/2015 - capacious Likes this wine: 93 Points
Double decanted for about 8 hours, and drinking beautifully. Complex, lengthy, with coffee, leather, cedar, a bit of dark chocolate, even a hint of porterhouse? Probably I shouldn't try to identify the flavors after all. This is why we buy wine and look at the bottles for two decades. And it's why our parents should start building us a cellar along with a college fund.
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4/11/2015 - Radboy wrote: 93 Points
This is drinking spectacularly tonight with filet. Earthy nose, dark cherry fruit with pencil shaving nuances. Well balanced with medium depth. Killer juice!
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3/18/2015 - J @ y H @ c k Likes this wine: 92 Points
Unnumbered March 2015 PDH Berserkerfest (PDH): I think this was PnP. A very nice Bordeaux in the price of life. Dark red cherry fruit and smooth saddle leather with a bit of tobacco. Tannins fully resolved. Fruit is taking on a tiny bit of sweetness.
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2/22/2015 - rdewolff Likes this wine: 92 Points
Bu de la cave de Fernando!
Amazing
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2/20/2015 - rdewolff Likes this wine: 93 Points
Bu de la cave de Fernando à Verbier.
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2/16/2015 - _water.into.wine_ Likes this wine: 90 Points
I am pleased to say my wine store offered a fantastic customer service experience by providing a replacement bottle free of charge following a corked bottle, so my big thanks to etc wines in Hong Kong, especially as I drank this for my brother in laws birthday.
I am delighted to say this wine was much better than the first. Medium to full bodied, but still structured, quite tannic, and probably having the ability to last another 10+ years. Poured into a decanter and drank over 2.5 hours
By itself a good wine, but when I compared this to the Ducru Beaucaillou 1999 and Gruard Larose 2000 consumed the week before, I can't help but feel that both of those have to be considered the better buys given they are all in the same approximate price category but certainly higher in quality.
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2/14/2015 - _water.into.wine_ wrote: flawed
Corked. Having now read a vast numbers of tasting notes citing TCA issues, I am starting to be concerned there were some widespread problems at Calon Segur this year.
In the glass the wine was dark red and surprisingly youthful looking for a 19 year old wine, but unfortunately on the nose there was only one aroma: Earth earth and earth, without any significant aromas of fruit. To taste, the wine was again dominated by wet earth flavours and was generally flat and muted.
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2/9/2015 - Harry Cantrell Likes this wine: 92 Points
Deep garnet. Nose between adolescence and adulthood. Leather, black fruits. Taste was smooth, rich, leather, touch anise. Very good and seemingly young for a 19 yo wine.
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2/4/2015 - Mad Dog Mikey wrote: 92 Points
Balanced and refined, would not wait much longer to drink these..
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1/13/2015 - paulst wrote: 90 Points
Initial rubber and tar with luscious blackberry; lost it after 2-3 hrs; became tannic then just flat; this vintage is trouble right now.
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12/21/2014 - thebonnydooner wrote: 92 Points
Compared next to a 1989 Las Cases this came across as slightly green and herbal. This was good, with nice earthy and graphite notes, but was austere and unreolved next to the Leoville. Nevertheless, this was still a great wine, lovely balance and nice complexity.
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12/18/2014 - Vino Me wrote: 93 Points
Opened by Parcival from magnum at an offline. 2nd time I have had this wine. Deep crimson color. Still had the same green pepper aromas on the nose that it had 11 years ago with some mint. Old world styled. Notes of tobacco, forest floor and morel. Fine minerality. Definitely improved over the last 11 years and showing very well. 93 points.
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12/12/2014 - AllRed wrote: 94 Points
From magnum opened by Parcival. Notes of roasted bell pepper, earth and dark fruit with just a hint of brett underneath. Balanced and drinking quite nicely already in this format. Flavors of black and red currants, herbs, tobacco and earth. Finishes with good length. Tannins are still present but not at all obtrusive. A real treat. 94 pts.
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11/22/2014 - the player Likes this wine: 92 Points
Excellent wine for the price. 1996 left bank is one of my favorite vintages having had many of the first growth. Decanted and aerated for 2 hours then drank over 2. Nice nose of cassis, black currant, leather, tar, tobacco and spice. Enters aggressive on the palate with dark fruits, leather and tobacco, covers mid palate with fruit, good backbone, medium to full bodied, and a decent albeit rustic tannic finish. Still needs time but shows good promise with further complexity in another 5 years.
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9/14/2014 - newkid17 wrote:
all pencil shaving and cedar flavor. No fruit. All finesse and long lasting impression on the palate. I liked, but cannot appreciate a wine like this.
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9/8/2014 - KeatingCellar wrote: 92 Points
Delightful. Will keep getting better in the years to come.
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8/9/2014 - paulst Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tar and cedar; complex; textured; blackberry; long finish.
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5/31/2014 - dhlau wrote: 91 Points
Decanted for 3 hours. Typical left bank nose with pencil shaving and lead, leather and hint of beef stock. Palate has dark fruits, a bit of tannins, balanced. Medium to long finish.
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5/25/2014 - RayOB wrote: 92 Points
Drank at Home
Classic claret with nose of lead, earth, dark berries, cedar and leather. Lovely rich complex palate. Great stuff.
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5/18/2014 - wineian Likes this wine: 92 Points
Classic Bordeaux with beautiful fragrant nose, well integrated tannins, smooth mid weight with dried herbs on palate. Lots of life left. Still has some power but great elegance. Enjoyed.
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5/17/2014 - KeatingCellar wrote: 93 Points
Great now! Will be outstanding in another couple years.
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5/10/2014 - NineteenEightyTwo Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium-dark garnet color. Decanted for three hours, this had an earthy and spicy nose of mushrooms, anise, tobacco and wood. On the palate this is mature and well-balanced, with a pleasant mix of dark fruit flavors and sous bois elements echoing the nose. The tannins are well-resolved and this drinks smoothly. It retains enough structure that I'd confidently hold on to bottles for another 3-5 years. Classic, lovely Bordeaux.
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5/5/2014 - rikipedia wrote: flawed
Terroir-istes International - France, Bordeaux, St. Estephe (Rodwell House): Dull mid garnet to wide orange rim, the bouquet is mature with tertiary fruits, tomato leaf, undergrowth and herbs. As it opens, it reveals some graphite, dry pencil shavings and an odd cardboard note suggesting cork issues. Whilst the palate exhibits some black fruits it seems compromised and suggests a scalped bottle.
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4/20/2014 - wihong wrote: 90 Points
- Slow forming legs with a medium body. Smooth texture with a long finish - Dark and opaque. Brown purple rim. Aroma: Gamy, mushroom and leather. With air, intense dried cranberry, cherry, anise, oak and violet. Palate entry: soft silky tannin, strawberry, cherry. Mid-Palate: earthy, anise, black pepper, cinnamon. Finish: oak, floral, orange blossom, hint of Camembert. smooth, floral, light but still have structure for a few more years.
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3/20/2014 - JSOL Likes this wine: 93 Points
Lovely full and expressive nose - cedar and marzipan on top of classic cabernet notes. Opened up in the glass. Drinking very well now and for another 5 years I should think.
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3/9/2014 - Decanting fool wrote: 90 Points
Interesting that several here cited bottles as being corked, because I detected subtle taint but none of those sharing the bottle could taste it. In any event, this wine has spent some time in funky town, -not necessarily a bad thing. Starting to show its age around the rim, but plenty of life left here. The nose is dominated by cat piss -not necessarily a bad thing- and the palate is very blueberry and mineral. Again, I was tasting TCA, so I couldn't fully embrace the wine, but it's a decent if not remarkable bottle.
Revisited on 2nd and 3rd nights and it just got better- more interesting, integrated and pleasurable. Funky.
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3/9/2014 - Robert Pavlovich wrote:
Tobacco leaf, tar covered red fruits on the nose. Soft in the mouth with the tannins well resloved. Low to medium viscosity. Finishes medium in length. While very pleasant, I found it a little light in concentration, with the fruit slightly overshadowed by the oak. Can't recommend at current market prices.
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2/15/2014 - N.Bonaparte wrote: 92 Points
Opened but did not decant and allowed to breath for about an hour (you can easily over decant this wine. If you decant I would say max 30min). This wine is good. Near perfect balance with prominent cherry throughout. Medium plus finish. Can drink this without food or with a light meal. Plenty of life left but unlikely to improve. Average value.
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2/14/2014 - galewskj wrote: 93 Points
Pop and pour because our first bottle was corked. Great nose and palate. Medium-plus finish. A mature Bordeaux that is drinking well now.
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2/12/2014 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Mostly French (& A Few More) Offline at Tilia (Tilia, Mpls): Very dark red color. No signs of age. PNP after the first bottle was corked, drank 1 glass over 80 minutes. Nose starts with great funk, earth, nice fruits, cassis, blueberry, earthy, floral, some dry herbs. The palate is full bodied, pretty, dry earth, cassis, blueberry, spices, medium grained round tannins, medium plus finish. This was drinking great on a PNP and shows nice maturity, hitting its stride now.
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2/12/2014 - rocknroller wrote: flawed
Mostly French (& A Few More) Offline at Tilia (Tilia, Mpls): first bottle was corked, backup was excellent.
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2/12/2014 - paulst Likes this wine: 93 Points
Rubber and tar nose; austere but with great structure; cedar with medium bodied blackberry and some coffee; good complexity and a nicely balanced feeling of well integrated tannins and moderate fruit; smooth but a bit tannic and moderately long finish.
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2/6/2014 - jww wrote: 90 Points
Slightly musty nose and flavor when opened. Very smooth, Dark fruits and cherries. After taste was a bit heavy like the musty taste.
Served three bottles with a Coq au vin and all were alike interesting but not outstanding, but a very nice compliment to the meal
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1/20/2014 - dcwino wrote: 94 Points
TN: Calon Segur vertical (Ripple Restaurant in DC): Mostly red fruit driven, quite mineral, lead pencil, cedar, a hint of eucalyptus Classic claret and drinking extremely well in very youthful way. This is a classic St. Estephe, quite mineral, precise and pure.
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1/20/2014 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 93 Points
16 vintages of Calon Segur (Ripple Restaurant in Washington D.C.): What lovely cool blueberry fruit. This had much precision and focus and it was one of my favorite wines of the evening. It was interesting to compare this to 1995 and 1989. Keith Levenberg loved the 1995. And while the 1995 may have had more substance on the mid palate, I think that the 1996 conveyed greater freshness and precision. An interesting comparison to be sure - and one to monitor in the future!
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1/20/2014 - paulst Likes this wine: 90 Points
Light blackberry nose; lean and earthy; tannic; green pepper; decent finish.
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1/13/2014 - capacious Likes this wine: 93 Points
Happily drinking well after several hours. I hope to live long, but if waiting 18 years is barely enough....anyhow the Calon was a very good companion to rack of lamb, classic for a Bordeaux. Some notes of caramel, tobacco, slightly dusky, with a presence on the palate that lasted and lasted.
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1/7/2014 - AndersAnd wrote: 88 Points
Ok, wine
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1/3/2014 - cybergod Likes this wine:
Drinking beautifully right now. Definitely more on the savoury side now, with tobacco, cedar and olive notes in the foreground, and the fruit rounding out the wine's flavour profile.
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1/3/2014 - ephorn Likes this wine: 93 Points
Tasting notes from memory 2 weeks ago: Classic cab/medoc nose of green pepper/green olives. Very dry, great balance, fine length. The cassis nose and flavors are tuned way down. This is all about the tertiary flavors.
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1/2/2014 - sastewart wrote: 92 Points
Green pepper, plum, cedar and leather on the nose. Medium body - Dark fruit, herbs and tobacco with nice minerality on the finish. Early maturity - could fill out a little. 92 points
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12/28/2013 - BillyT wrote:
Popped and poured. Nose totally expressive of st estephe. Barnyard, scorched wet earth, tar, shoe leather, burnt rubber, must wet barrel. Color was rich purple to the rim with no browning to speak of. Bright red fruit on the palate with significant wood tannins yet balanced with good acidity on the mid palate and finish of cherry fruit. Not very complex on the palate as the nose. Still young but approachable. Lingering dry fruit finish. Let's see where this is in an hour. 92 pop and pour.
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12/25/2013 - M.Batard wrote: 92 Points
Ruby color, but transparent at the edges. Blackberries and cedar nose, with a hint of tobacco coming through on the palate. Fine tannins still in evidence. Not the same richness and depth of the '96 Montrose served first, but very, very drinkable with rib roast, and later with cheese after the port ran out (teenagers!!).
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10/26/2013 - VAGenius Likes this wine: 95 Points
60 minute decant. Nose of red currant, sun-baked earth, and tobacco leaf. Caressing palate of red fruit still shows some bright freshness before layers of gravel and tobacco take over, adding some floral notes. The tannin layers are fully resolved but show complexity, with light acidity, duty earth, red plum, and red stones. A great 27th wedding anniversary wine, but our marriage will outlast the 5-7 years this vintage has left.
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10/19/2013 - GalvezGuy Likes this wine: 91 Points
CT Texas VI - Return to San Antonio; 10/18/2013-10/19/2013 (San Antonio): Nice nose of red and black currant, bell pepper, cedar, tobacco, hints of graphite. On the palate great depth and balance, with black currant, red currant, mocha, and cedar. Great grip on with a nice tannic finish. Still drinking very young. I would hold these for a while longer.
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10/13/2013 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 95 Points
Based on professional scores and ratings this is clearly over performing. Had my second bottle from this case that I bought on futures.
Dark red, dense,chewy,lots of black fruit, tannins are softening some but this does still have a good ten years of life still in it.
Opened up over 4 hours . Drinking beautifully now.
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10/1/2013 - deverett wrote: 93 Points
Much better showing than my last bottle. Great depth and balance, lovely blackcurrant and mocha flavous, creamy oak and fine ripe tannins which are resolving nicely. This for me still wasn't showing lots of secondary flavours so feel it has many years to go yet over which time it should show further improvement.
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8/24/2013 - WST wrote: 94 Points
Nicer every year. Anniversary wine; now firmly in its drinking window, where it will stay for a decade and more.
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8/19/2013 - bryan107 wrote: 93 Points
Still Ruby. M+ very fine grained tannin, M+ body, H acidity, and Pronounced intensity on both nose and the palate. Very integrated flavour of ripe black fruits, blackcurrant leaf, herbaceous, spicies, cider, vallina, cegar box, tobacco and hint of meat and leather. Not a powerful craft but there is a certain concentration in it. Long finish.
Outstanding quality. Drink very well now but can still age for 5-6 years.
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8/18/2013 - Serge Birbrair Likes this wine:
Lovely barnyard on the nose, if it pops on Benchmark mailer - grab it. Has lots of years left.
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8/5/2013 - William Kelley Likes this wine: 93 Points
More evolved to judge by its color than the 1995, this expressive and surprisingly approachable wine offers up complex notions of beef blood, plum sauce, leather, blackcurrant, black tea and dried herbs. Its tannins are fullly resolved and its palate impression is beautifully sweet and balanced. At least from an old subterranean passive cellar, this is in a very nice place right now.
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8/3/2013 - sandwich Likes this wine: 93 Points
Classic Bordeaux. Strong cedar and tobacco with some muted berry aromatics. Strong blackberry and a clean finish. The initial heat blew off after an hour.
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8/3/2013 - eoinhharkins Likes this wine: 93 Points
Simply wonderful, nose is something to relish, notes of cedar, tobacco, worn leather, earth and some dark chary/ raspberry, similar palate, body is silky with the tannin and acidity integrated well at the stage, slight bitterness towards the finish which could have been a slight touch longer
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7/8/2013 - mechoui wrote: 89 Points
Go down the hill...
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6/29/2013 - Milos Likes this wine: 92 Points
Dark red fruit with mineral undertones; classic St. Estephe; tannins resolved; at its prime now.
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6/22/2013 - LJT wrote: 93 Points
Great bouquet. "Old Bordeaux" flavors. Still strong, but readu to drink. I am glad I have more for the next few years.
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6/8/2013 - BBG London Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drunk at Vintners Dinner 06.06.13. Delicious, earthy with soft tanins. Recommended.
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5/25/2013 - M.Batard wrote: 91 Points
Decanted one hour ahead. Deep ruby color. Dark fruit, more blackberry than cassis, and distinct cedar on the nose. Palate had both as well, but quite savory: not sweet in the slightest. Lighter bodied than the '96 Ch.Montrose. Paired with lamb chops and grilled vegetables.
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5/22/2013 - awineo Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank this at a Bordeaux party. GREAT nose, but the fruit was a little flat. Good bottle, but I like the CA cabs better.
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5/12/2013 - RKwok Likes this wine: 91 Points
Deep ruby color, medium bodied, the nose is floral and sweet dark fruits, the palate is very refreshing, raspberries, blackberries, cedar wood, some leather, and hint of coffee in the finish.
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3/30/2013 - Burgundy Al wrote: 90 Points
Another Saturday at Knightsbridge - mostly blind (Northbrook, IL): Double blind tasting. Lots of sweet black fruit. Plum and black cherry aromas and flavors with good vanilla and chocolate support. Forward and easy to enjoy. Much better than I recall from when last tasted a couple of years ago.
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3/30/2013 - drrobvino wrote: 92 Points
A big behemoth of a Bordeaux that must be decanted hours before you attempt to drink it. Still has 10 years left. Vegetal, earthy, black fruits and moist soil and cigar box and pencil lead and mushroom, etc etc.
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3/12/2013 - Yagil wrote: 91 Points
1982-1990-1996 Bordeaux evening (my home): light red-brown color with brown rim;
Strong green herbs aroma that softened a bit during 30 min - this wine require a pre-opening of few hours; very tannic & green in taste; a classical Saint Estephe.
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2/18/2013 - dicehk Likes this wine: 90 Points
Still very young and decanted for three hours to allow it to breathe. Initial bouquet showed hints of tocbacco, spice and red berries. Palette of dark fruits and a spicy cinamon. Has plenty of time and legs and should evolve wonderfully. Good to revisit in 5 years.
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1/13/2013 - Whidah wrote: 88 Points
Lovely soft supple mature Bordeaux, and well worth the wait. Perfectly balanced in the mouth with ripe fruit and muted tannins.
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12/28/2012 - Serge Birbrair Likes this wine:
Lovely. Drink-hold.
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12/23/2012 - Apollo5710 wrote: 93 Points
This was in great shape! Initially, the wine showcased a big, open and earthy nose of cedar, mint, leather, a hint of tobacco, and dark fruits, which grew more complex over time. Classic Bordeaux nose! In the mouth, a big and smooth texture featured flavors of creamy blueberries and blackberries which was followed by a long, spicey, but tannic finish. Over time, the finish settled and evolved with a lingering hint of brown sugar and cimmamon.
In great shape now, but I'd say it still has 5-10 years of positive evolution. 93+
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12/16/2012 - Winevestor Likes this wine: 92 Points
A great classic St Estephe. Decanted for 4 hours and it really helped. Smoothed it out. Classic graphite and green pepper - clear Cab note. Drinking beautifully and has several more years on the drinking plateau. Good blue fruit. Long finish
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12/6/2012 - paulst wrote: 92 Points
Soft and light; round and nice on the palate; delicate; integrated tannins.
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9/9/2012 - basquey wrote:
drink up as it's closing time. Not much fruit left, but a scratchy earthiness and... Blackness. Dark... Deep... Black... Like the inside of my heart. White orchids and black roses. The sensuous cassis spice of Baphomet's mouthwash takes root in empty tooth cavities and guides the tongue serpent in an astral taste travel spanning several lifetimes. Like a Lynchian film, there's light and dark. Brett and reductive hints linger round the toast by the camp fire. Mephistopheles is smoking inside my mouth! A cigar! A light in the darkness, is it just headlights? Smooth sailing on the river Styx. No bumpy tannins. Like a well brewed cup of Green Tea. The spiral of wonder goes deeper than you think.
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8/28/2012 - BillyT wrote: 91 Points
Dark purple to the rim. Think legs and body. Nose almost of ocean water and salt, herbacious, dark fruit, white pepper. Palate of dark black fruit, spice, vanilla and little oak. Integrated tannins. Outstanding.
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7/24/2012 - aegerter wrote: 90 Points
Mature Bordeaux - pleasant but nothing to rave about. Definitely less than 93 Parker Points...
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7/14/2012 - kevincheng Likes this wine: 89 Points
Tobacco, mint and red berries on the nose with a hint of oak and cassis.
Drinking ok-ish now, although it needed a good 30 minutes or so, but there was a slightly overwhelming flavour of trees and shrubs.. thats all i can describe it as, alongside the nice plush berries. A touch too many tannins also for my liking giving the structure.
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7/3/2012 - sbfoote wrote: 88 Points
Red fruits, a little underripe, bit of a disappointment.
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6/27/2012 - vanpe003 wrote: 88 Points
No detailed notes. Seemed fully resolved out of a 375ml bottle, with a noticeable (but not objectionable) green note to the palate.
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6/19/2012 - MarkR wrote:
Very good, lots of fruit, some tannin on the finish. Drinking nicely now, but will carrying on improving.
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6/10/2012 - Jeff Leve wrote: 90 Points
Notes of tobacco, spice box, cassis, cigar box and leaf, medium bodied, with a fresh, bright, crisp red and black fruit finish. This is developing at a faster pace than I thought, as Calon Segur usually takes decades to come around.
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5/28/2012 - deverett wrote: 88 Points
Have had better bottles of this wine. Seemed to have a bit of a green streak going on which threw the balance out a bit and which I have not picked up in previous bottles of wine. Plenty of plush fruit, cedar, chalky tannins and nice length, depth and balanced acidity. I think this is a better wine than this showing.
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5/12/2012 - Papies wrote: 91 Points
Opened, decanted and served. Very little sediment. Good bottle and cork.
The nose is the highlight here. Open from the start, secondary, earthy light fruit notes. On the palate although well round and very enjoyable it seems to be missing depth and complexity. Maybe its because it followed the lovely Rauzan-Segla 1996 (Papies 93). Still a very enjoyable, mature wine. Classic bordeaux style. 91 and drink at will.
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5/7/2012 - chatters wrote:
Garnet coloured. Fully developed, farmyard funk, leather, wet hay, mushroom, tobacco, cedar, graphite, pencil shavings and slight mint. In the mouth there are flavours of leather, sweet tobacco, meaty, savoury, slight bramble, long finish, fine grippy tannin, cedar, medium plus body.
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2/11/2012 - paulst wrote: 94 Points
Leather nose; excellent balance; smooth blackberry with decent finish and depth.
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2/4/2012 - Radboy wrote: 91 Points
A nice but not fantastic wine. Somewhat subdued fruit with elegant tannins.
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1/29/2012 - Alexis A wrote: 92 Points
Very evolved color. Nice. Nose of cocoa, forest floor, blue fruits. Nice balance and tannins solid in mid palate and smoothen out on the back. Very pleasant and ready.
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10/18/2011 - Burgundy Al wrote: 86 Points
Acker Merrall 1996 Left Bank Bordeaux Dinner (Balsan - Chicago IL): Perhaps a disappointing bottle or this is at an awkward phase, but this didn't show the level of fruit, spice or nuance I would expect. Came across as acidic and tannic, still quite structured, without much pleasure provided today. I don't know exactly when opened and decanted, but this wasn't popped-and poured and I think was given reasonable treatment in order for it to show well.
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9/28/2011 - JoachimS wrote: 90 Points
Right when opened, wine was sour/tart. Opened up, reveled a mineral bitterness with hints of leather. Not my style, exactly, but very good.
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9/18/2011 - deverett wrote: 92 Points
Still very fresh at 15 years old and many years left to go. All the hallmarks of a lovely St Estephe with rich red fruits, cedar and firm but ripe and well integrated tannins. Went great with a rolled lamb shoulder.
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9/15/2011 - Texas Hodag wrote: 92 Points
Great red fruit and spice, still TONS of life left. I won't have another for at least a year.
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8/25/2011 - WST wrote:
Our anniversary wine. Last year's bottle seemed more balanced and developed. Still a wonderful St. Estephe, better with a few more years of bottle age.
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8/9/2011 - mbeutel Likes this wine: 92 Points
Wild. Tea, tobacco and cigarbox. A touch of leather. High acid and a bit oak. Quite the debate between the 4 tasters. Made for a great discussion. I really enjoyed it. I initially labeled it a spanish wine. Probably my favorite wine of the night
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8/8/2011 - Taketakase wrote: 90 Points
Surprised by the taste actually. Rich, casual and smells very good!
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6/18/2011 - ews3 wrote: 93 Points
Great Grapes for a Great Cause SQN Tasting -- 4th Annual; 6/17/2011-6/18/2011 (Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC): very sophisticated mouthfeel with primary and secondary creating a nice interplay. black fruit, mint, and a little light floral.
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4/13/2011 - Yagil Likes this wine: 90 Points
wine evening hosted by Yoram (at Yoram Solberg): Blind tasting; bottle was opened just before the tasting;
light red-brown color with brown rim;
Strong green herbs aroma that softened a bit during 30 min - this wine require a pre-opening of few hours; very tannic & green in taste; a classical Saint Estephe.
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4/5/2011 - short and confused wrote: 92 Points
First bottle out of a case. Earthy nose with some currant, tar and cigar box; dark red color, no sign of ageing yet.Drank over the course of 2 hours. Relatively austere. Some red fruit hidden behind minerals, tar and tobacco, decent finish. Curious how this will be in a year.
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1/21/2011 - Ericpe wrote: 93 Points
Decanted about 2 hours, finally beginning to enter a reasonable drinking window.
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1/10/2011 - Beachrooster wrote: flawed
Long day and decided to to treat myself.... Corked! By the way ginger doesn't work. i might have added too much.
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12/27/2010 - sfowine wrote:
Mom's choice for wine with roast duck at Christmas. I went with Beaux Freres PN ('04) and thus did not have much of the Calon. Tasted initially upon opening, and then 1-2 hours in decanter, and tasted over dinner for the next hour. It seems very typical of the winery: medium bodied, old world style (12.5 abv), leather & peat, red currant, solid grip on the finish. A glass left at the end of the evening was vacuvin'd and put in the frig. Next evening after warming a bit, it seemed even sweeter than previous night. Might give my other bottle another year, or longer decant.
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12/27/2010 - ctc wrote: 93 Points
Slow oxidation for about 3 hours prior. Some initial barnyard on the nose which soon passed leaving a lot of black cherry and some cassis. Deep red in color and no sign of aging. Medium bodied. I thought the tannins had resolved well. Medium-length finish. As someone else commented, I doubt that this will ever be a great wine or much better than it is now but it is well made and very enjoyable with food; we paired it with entrecôte béarnaise, pommes sautées and green beans and it went well.
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12/13/2010 - gondrik wrote: 94 Points
Just starting to mature with the robustness of youth. The tannins were forward but not dominate. A wine for food.
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11/13/2010 - VoteferPedro wrote: 92 Points
At Charlie Palmer's in Dallas. Decanted.
Eye: difficult to gauge in dim restaurant light but deep brickish robe with clear rim. (5)
Nose: opened with a corn husk smell I associate with right bank merlots and that blew off to give more traditional aromas (13)
Palate: cool and refreshing cab fruit flavor and builds to fill the mouth more fully. Later there some cocoa chocolate feel at the back end after an hour of air. Tannins are fine but still dense. Finish is 20+seconds (17)
Up until now I have not been impressed that 1996s were drinking particularly well. The handful of left bank I have tried were still dumb but not this one tonight.
5+13+17+7 = 92
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9/5/2010 - PMDias wrote: 90 Points
As above. Thought a long (3-plus hours) decant might bring something more out of this wine, but not really.
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8/25/2010 - WST wrote: 96 Points
Looks like I'm on the high end of the rating bell-curve on this one, compared to other CT as well as professional notes. So be it....
Decanted 2 hours, poured back into the bottle, re-corked and foiled so I could bring it to the restaurant stealthily as "unopened."
Beautiful wine. Expressive and complex nose and palate. Cocoa-dusted current, cedar, peat, some floral elements as well as deep minerality. Medium bodied, medium finish, elegant. Tannins present but more senescent than in previous years, contributing to perfect balance.
Could it be sentimentality because this is our Anniversary Wine (married in '96, the bottle has a heart on the label, and we enjoyed several vintages before we were married and since)? Did the outdoor sunset dinner and company influence and enhance my perception of the wine? Probably, but something as subjective as taste is bound to be influenced by environment and mood. That said, regardless of whether I rate this a 90 or a 98, this wine was outstanding on this night
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8/20/2010 - LWI wrote: 88 Points
Bordeaux North to South (My house): Obviously quite young. A lot of power, black currant; not particularity elegant, noticeable tannins. OK wine – but doubt whether it will turn into something really interesting.
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8/4/2010 - Ho Bryan wrote:
Cracking good wine. I paid a lot retail to get my hands on this recently, and I am perfectly happy with the QPR. Someone mentioned a Petite Lafite nose below. Funny, because one of my first associations with this wine was the nose reminded me of Latour. Not the same, and you wouldn't want to open this with that expectation, but the related complexity was striking. As others have noted, there is some greeness here on the palate and moreso on the finish. It didn't bother me too much at all though as it didn't detract from the fruit.
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6/1/2010 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Slow ox for 4 hrs. Ruby core with no signs of age. I wasn't expecting this to be as primary and green as it was, but over the course of a few hours much of that had (mostly) dissipated. Very lively acids, firm tannins and flavours of cassis, red berry and vanilla. Not yet in its preferred drinking window, this has another 15 years ahead of it. Be sure to decant thoroughly if opening now.
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5/22/2010 - 60ouvrees wrote:
A distinctive greenness to this that's hard to ignore although I didn't find it all that offputting. Overall a reasonably good wine.
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4/30/2010 - BailliSacks wrote:
Classic Calon, nose is dark with green pepper. Developed somewhat over a couple of hours, but maintained an austerity. May need more time to mature and open. Lavender.
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4/3/2010 - PMDias wrote: 90 Points
Opened and decanted a half-hour before consumption. Initially the nose was a little closed, but there was a general notion of serious red and black fruit in there. Eventually opened to black cherry, licorice, loam and a touch of sweet violet. Palate matched, though I was initially concerned that there seemed to be very little happening in the midpalate: good attack, but the wine sort of vanished for a moment before regrouping for a long sappy finish. Given the excellent, minute-plus finish, I thought the wine would fill in, and within a half-hour it did just that, becoming a lovely, velvety, well-rounded mature claret. Good acidity provided structure, though the tannin was entirely resolved.
Maybe a little less intensity than I'd hoped for, but great elegance and presence. Lovely with rack of lamb.
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3/31/2010 - Barbalax wrote: 94 Points
I am quite conservative with my points, but this wine showed so well tonight that I must go very high. Nice balance of maturity and fruit explosion. Classic Bordeaux with a hint of Beringer Private Reserve. Extremely long finish. Polished cassis juice with 1:er cru aspiration.
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3/24/2010 - TheBusiness724 wrote: 89 Points
Not great provenance for this bottle, as a little wine had seeped up to the top of the cork. Still, solid tannins and minerals on day one, with some dark fruit. Day two was arguably better, with graphite and anise most prominent. It was smoother and less tannic on the second day, if slightly quieter and more austere as well. Well-stored bottles of this likely have awhile to go.
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3/13/2010 - MatthewF wrote:
Classic Bordeaux aromas of red currant and plum, sweet cedar, tobacco leaf. Very seductive. Great fruit on the palate, medium plus body, and great minerality. Still very young and needs time for the tannins to fully resolve. Great wine.
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1/23/2010 - the player wrote: 92 Points
Had this wine after dinner with friends at a restaurant yesterday. Very nice and earthy nose of currant, dark cherries cloaked with tar and cigar box; beautiful red to dark red ruby color, no sign of ageing yet. After only an hour in the decanter this wine was extremely enjoyable and we savoured it over the next 2 hours. Great entry, super mid palate, dark red fruit yet still hidden behind earth, tar and tobacco, very nice though not outstanding finish. This medium to full bodied wine was extremely well balanced with strong yet smooth and velevety tannins. Much more enjoyable and drinkable than the 1996 Montrose I drank a couple of months ago.
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1/2/2010 - cfe wrote: 89 Points
Very dark red. Decanted for over six hours, thte wine was still aromatically pretty shy. A bit of leather and hints of spice, but pretty shy aromatically. The palate was much better, showing dense fruit in a full boied way. Really packed with plummy dense way, with the leather notes, and earth, currants, cedar. Texture is fullish, and reasonably soft. Finish is medium length. Hoping for more aromatic development....
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12/2/2009 - Deb293 wrote: 89 Points
Ruby red with no signs of bricking. Nose of saddle leather, tar and licorice, with flavors of sour cherry, lead pencil and pine cone. Minty finish. Still a teenager. Slightly tannic finish, and medium-long length, but drinking well.
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11/28/2009 - borneman wrote: 91 Points
No sign of age in the glass. Huge nose of leather, tobacco, eucalyptus. Nice.
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10/12/2009 - Neebs wrote: 92 Points
Decanted for about an hour. Forward first impression. Fruit and tanins in perfect balance. Very smooth and elegant from first to last.
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7/3/2009 - h12 wrote: 96 Points
Opened, little pour, smelt, and danced around the room. Deep, leather, cigarbox, casis, spice, leather. Medium plus body but good structure and ends clean and long and long. It is what I like. Didn't therefore decant and it didn't change much over three or four hours. Tastes as it smells. Perfect in all departments but ultimately not as complex as, say, a 95 Pichon Baron. 3+
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6/28/2009 - petitblanc wrote: 91 Points
Deep ruby-garnet color, with flashes of violet. Mineral, barnyard, lead pencil, and green olive around a decent core of plummy fruit. Lots of sour acidity and largely resolved tannins. Excellent length on the pleasant, if slightly stemmy, finish. This bottle may have suffered from a tiny bit of corkiness, but still made for nice drinking.
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5/9/2009 - TheBusiness724 wrote: 92 Points
This had a clean, dark purple color and appeared quite young. The wine was decanted for over an hour, after which the nose showed notes of graphite and other minerals, along with a refreshing, almost palate-cleansing ginger effect. In the mouth, the wine was a bit tannic at first, but eventually smoothed out into a almost velvety texture. The palate was predictably similar to the nose, with good minerality and hints of berry, acidity and even herbs on the finish, which was long and powerful.
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4/19/2009 - Teamcrev wrote: 92 Points
Drinking very well right now. Served with grilled lamb for Easter. We drank this alongside the '96 Pichon and it finished second of the two, but it was still very good. Decanted 3 hours and the wine was very smooth and no real signs of fading yet.
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4/17/2009 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
Chris Hughes is Cooking Lamb so Bring Good Wine! (Hughes House - Chicago IL): Black cherry, black pepper and green pepper aromas. Similar on palate with some underbrush character and spice on finish. Good with lamb.
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4/17/2009 - winefool wrote: 93 Points
Wineflock - Wine with Lamb (My house): Full crimson red color. Big forward nose of green pepper, spice, briar and red fruit - nice. Mmmn, nice smooth red black fruit with a green hint on the palate. One of the nicer pairings for the lamb.
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2/26/2009 - isdblm@lsu.edu wrote: 94 Points
Shared w L post-val dinner--tannins in abeyance, floral and velvety, w dark chocolate prominent. Really lovely.
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1/25/2009 - cfe wrote:
purple red. A bit shy nose of hints of leather, currant and pencil shavings. On the full side of mid weight, good fruit cencentration, but not yet at peak, and needs additional time to bloom. This wasn't infanticide, but clearly this wine is still tight and has not reached its potential. Try again in 2014.
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11/27/2008 - ELH wrote: 93 Points
Mixed berry & earth on nose and palate. Lovely dark color. Most enjoyable.
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10/19/2008 - noppakit s. wrote: 92 Points
Can not remember how many times I've tried this wine. Anyway, I always love Calon-Segur 1996, it's Petit-Lafite.
Strong scent of cedar wood, deep and clean, Lafite's style. The palate is beautiful, everything is perfect, balance, acid and very well-round. The aftertaste is so kind, soft, smooth and long.
When the fruit shows up, umm....this is mind-blowing wine. I must buy as many bottles as I can. I just find out that Calon-Segur makes me happy like Lafite did.
Drink 2009 - 2022.........92-93/100
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10/11/2008 - envirovino wrote: 92 Points
Still seemed a little young, tannins still prominent at finish. Good entry and mid however. Nice nose.
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10/1/2008 - jakob.krummenacher@gmail.com wrote: 90 Points
Very nice cab with mild aromas and flavors of cassis, cherry and spicy oak. Quite subdue at this point and doubt it will improve much over time. Drink now.
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8/22/2008 - sonakul_t wrote: 91 Points
Nice ruby colour, with a great nose which developed over time. Good dark fruits, some leather/earth and coffee.....nice medium body, well balanced
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7/25/2008 - chitowncdpguy wrote: 93 Points
Very interesting wine.
Dark ruby tending toward a little purplish. Complex nose of mixed berries, tree fruit, and spices. Palate has much less fruit and is dominated by minerality, more spices, earthiness. Tannins are still very, very robust. Long finish.
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6/9/2008 - albeytw wrote: 88 Points
Very earthy and smoky. High acidity and medium tannin. A bit slim on mid palate. SHort finish.
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4/5/2008 - mchrist wrote: 90 Points
Drinking nicely now. Fruity (cherries) on the nose with a nice long finish.
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3/29/2008 - loverboy wrote: 93 Points
Very nice ruby red, very complex. Clean nose of black fruit, cherries, tobacco, leather. Very lafite alike IMO. Medium wine with lots of interesting stuffs.
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3/5/2008 - rmodak wrote: 87 Points
The nose and palate show cassis, green olive, wet tobacco and a hint of leather. Unfortunately, the midpalate seemed a bit hollow with slightly sour fruit and bell pepper notes. I initially scored this lower, but the wine did seem to integrate and deepen with some air time. I suspect this wine would benefit from a few hours of decanting, and likely my score is conservative.
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2/16/2008 - chrisraub wrote: 90 Points
Definitely noted the herb, cedar and dark fruit. Tanin still present but not overpowering. A bit acidic. Best on the nose...finish and palate oK
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1/16/2008 - DrDave wrote: 93 Points
READY TO DRINK! Anyone that has a bunch of these like I do should start consuming. Delicious and fully open. Cassis and cedar predominate - previously noted tannins have melted away. Best wine I have opened in the past 6 months. Sadly miles above the 89 Latour I uncorked last week...
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11/14/2007 - ToddR911 wrote: 82 Points
Sampled at a wine tasting last night. It was just okay. Also had the 2000 which was better than this vintage.
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7/18/2007 - winefool wrote: 90 Points
1996 Bordeaux Horizontal (Custom House): Forward dark chocolate black plum fruit nose with some hot spices. Red and black fruits witha somewhat hollow mid palate and an acidic finish.
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7/18/2007 - Nanda wrote: 91 Points
1996 Bordeaux Horizontal (Custom House - Chicago, IL): Complex nose has new world and old, with ripe dark fruits, mocha, spice but a distinct Bordeaux minerality. Palate has stiff tannins that close down the fruit and offer a bitterness on the finish. Needs time.
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6/11/2007 - LianJet wrote:
Had a bottle with Henry, CSTeo and YuZhong.
Decanted for 2 hours, fruity nose, could not tell more details as a bottle of Macallan 25 years whiskey was consumed before this bottle of wine. Big mistake, at least for me. Whiskey overpowered senses and wine, making wine lacking characther. V. smooth and 30+sec finish and that's all I can rate for this bottle for now. Drank enough to convince me that it is worth another go in the near future.
90+
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5/6/2007 - llink wrote: 93 Points
Decanted 2 hours before drinking. Deep tobacco, loamy nose with black fruits and a touch of menthol. Great mouthfeel, a touch of salinity, but very rich and mouthfilling without being heavy. Intense flavors on the palate lead to a long and deep finish, with everything in balance. Still youthful and a bit lean with extended airing, but the tannins are well balanced by the fruit. This is drinking nicely right now, however you are in no hurry to drink them up.
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4/24/2007 - Maestro wrote: 90 Points
Beautiful nose displaying tobacco, truffles, wet earth, creme de cassis and blueberries. On the palate it evolved through the night displaying more and more of its fruit. The finish started very short and lenghtened considerably as the wine opened up. The last glass had a very long and satisfying finish. This is drinking fine now and will drink well for another 5 years or so.
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3/9/2007 - Fatty Cat wrote: 93 Points
Early Mar 2007 a 0.375 L bottle at a restaurant: classic Claret at its best.
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3/3/2007 - Dave Dalluge wrote: 91 Points
Anniversary Dinner with Friends: Opened but not decanted about five hours before serving. I probably should have decanted. This has an even darker color than the Pichon Baron. The nose is very reserved giving dark fruit and leather. A slight greenness on the nose makes the wine seem a bit austere, but this does not carry through to the taste. On the palate this is silky smooth. The taste is dominated by dark fruit with little in the way of secondary flavors. The texture is great and the finish is plenty long. It will be interesting to see how this develops with additional bottle age.
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2/25/2007 - Rob MacKay wrote: 93 Points
Double decanted and recorked for 4 hours prior to drinking and this really opened up the wine beautifully. Everything we were waiting for after opening the last couple of bottles was there waiting for us this time and made for an awesome experience. Dark ruby core to a very slight fading on the rim. Earthy, cigar box nose with nicely integrated berry and fruit flavors and a smooth, long finish. One of the best 1996 St. Estephe wines we have had to date.
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10/15/2006 - Rob MacKay wrote: 91 Points
This bottle showed better than the bottle we opened back in August but still took a little while to unwind itself. Like the 96 Cos d'Estournel we had the same night, this one is still young. On the nose the earthy, cigar box notes jumped out of the bottle quite quickly. Earth and berry flavors. Medium to full bodied with the tannins showing up on the finish.
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8/23/2006 - Rob MacKay wrote: 90 Points
Big nose of earth and cigar box mixed with maybe green peppers. We decanted this for about a half hour and maybe should have let it sit much longer. Still seemed a little tightly wound. By the time we finished the bottle, things were just coming together nicely. Fortunately we still have a couple more.
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4/2/2006 - jmcmchi wrote:
Beautiful concentration and balance. Layers of complexity, refined and simultaneously approachable
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2/15/2006 - sapgem wrote: 89 Points
Decanted in advance but still tight and tannic. Pleasurable, but should blossom further.
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1/12/2006 - hcampana wrote: 93 Points
1996 Bordeaux Horizontal in Gusbo's honor (Pichon Lalande, Lynch Bages, Pichon Baron, Calon Segur, Sociando Mallet, Carruades de Lafite, Pavillon Rouge, 1990 Suduiraut & 1972 Don PX Toro Albala) (Monterrey, Mexico): Very dark ruby. This was the most open nose of the flight with very attractive cassis, coffee and bitter chocolate. This low acid wine had layered fruit, low acidity and very ripe tannins. Finish was long and fruity. Amazingly open for a 1996. I guessed this was the Cos d'Esturnel and was wrong. My favorite of the flight. (Five 1st place votes, One 2nd place votes, One 3rd place votes).
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1/1/2006 - wyno wrote: 90 Points
Soft tannins, very eartly and tobbacco
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1/1/2006 - wyno wrote: 90 Points
Decanted for 2 hrs, paired with Beef Wellington. Earthly tobacco casiss nose. softer tannins than expected. Very drinkable
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9/14/2005 - steffenpelz wrote: 93 Points
Austin Wine Tasting (Castle Hill Cafe): Garnet Red. Amazing nose of all that is great about left-bank Bordeaux. Cigar Box, truffle, earth, loads of cassis and dark berry fruit. Black olive tapenade and a rustic gameyness I like. Almost sweet finish and great texture and mouthfeel. Only surprise...seemingly more advanced in its evolution than I would have thought as the wine was not nearly as tannic as I would have expected.
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8/19/2005 - cos65 wrote:
A nice big sweet (after 3 hours) Calon. A nice comparison to the seductively sweet '82 served with.
****
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6/18/2005 - Pinotlover wrote:
Good stuff, well balanced, smooth, tannins are integrated well. The nose is a little closed off at first, but second pour was less muted. Beautiful notes of anise and charred meat are surrounded by deep dark fruit. Not a blockbuster, I like the '95 a little better, but I think this wine is more approachable than the '95.
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3/22/2005 - hcampana wrote: 90 Points
The 3 Tenors of Saint Estephe (Calon, Cos & Montrose): 1982, 1990, 1995, 1996 & 2000 (New York City, NY): Wine No. 2 (1996 Calon Segur)
Darker than wine 1 but a lighter rim. Muted nose of very spicy (pepper?) strawberries (even though it doesn’t conform with what one would expect from a St. Estephe). I perceived a higher merlot content than the other two wines. This wine opened some with time but remained closed throughout. The finish lacked length and fruitiness. I picked Calon Segur correctly. 90+ points . I did not write down the group voting in this flight.
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10/25/2003 - Vino Me wrote: 91 Points
The best of this tastingof 8 bordeaux. Green pepper nose. Round with notes of black pepper, berry and coffee. Still big and tannic. 91.
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10/18/2003 - R2-D2 wrote: 92 Points
This tasting showed the wine very similar to last year's tasting. The displays significant amounts of cassis and red fruit, tobacco, cedar, and spice with a touch of rustic twang. Very good, would be better with more air.
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10/2/2003 - R2-D2 wrote: 86 Points
Last fall this was a liquid sweet-tart, one of the sweetest juiciest Bordeaux wines I've tasted. This bottle was disappointing. Green pepper, mushrooms, leather, roasted beef, with almost no fruit. Not corked, just off ... I hope.
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10/4/2002 - R2-D2 wrote: 93 Points
A delicous treat, like drinking a liquid sweettart. The nose is so smooth and sweet, the cassis in this was only beaten by one other wine that night, the 85 Margaux. Great sensations of rasberry, earthiness, and leather all with rich tannins that are going to integrate nicely in time.
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10/17/1999 - mdefreitas wrote: 85 Points
CT Group does 1996 Bordeaux @ Jeff S: No nose. Medium concentration. Not much interesting going on in the glass, correct, but average wine.
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