Chateau Calon-Segur Saint-Estephe 3-eme Grand Cru Classe 2017

Chateau Calon-Segur, Saint-Estephe 3-eme Grand Cru Classe is the first, debut wine of the Calon-Segur estate, rare, authentic, and soul-stirring. It naturally demonstrates both great tenderness and exceptional intensity. In this balance lies all the magic of Calon. The wine blend consists of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot, which are grown in the Saint-Estephe region. This area is characterized by heavy clay-limestone soils, which lead to delayed ripening due to poor drainage and higher acidity levels in the wines. These factors explain why many Saint-Estephe winemakers have increased their focus on Merlot in recent decades, as it is better suited to clay soils than Cabernet Sauvignon. Local wines are traditionally quite strict and dense in their youth, while Merlot serves to soften the texture. The wine is primarily made from hand-harvested grapes from young 22-year-old vines of the estate. The first selection of grapes is made still on the vine. At the winery, the harvest undergoes mechanical sorting on a vibrating table followed by manual sorting. Vinification takes place in conical stainless steel tanks with temperature control. Maceration lasts from 18 to 21 days. The wine is then aged for 20 months in new French oak barrels. The 2017 vintage shows stunning potential, with the wine reaching its peak maturity between 2022-2047.