Château Calon Ségur

History of Château Calon Ségur

Historical records show that Calon Ségur already existed in 1147 when it belonged to Monseigneur de Calon, an important bishop in the community. Calon Ségur is therefore one of the oldest properties in Saint Estèphe. A few years later, the estate was managed by Nicolas Alexandre de Ségur. The Calon Ségur estate was born! After several decades, the estate became the property of a famous figure during this period: the Marquis De Segur. De Segur is an important figure in Bordeaux history, not only because he owned the great Bordeaux estates of the time (Lafite and Latour), but also because he is said to have uttered the following words: "I make my wine at Lafite and Latour, but my heart is at Calon". The legend was born and has endured to this day. Indeed, the estate's logo features this mythical phrase. As you can imagine, the Ségur estate was a grand one, given that the Marquis also owned what later became Château Lafite Rothschild and Château Latour... But all things must come to an end, and the estate passed into the hands of other buyers named Gasqueton and Hanappier as early as 1894. The Gasqueton family managed the estate until 2012. Denise Gasqueton was the last of the line to run the estate, dying in 2011 at the age of 87. In 2012, Château Calon Segur was sold for 170 million euros. The buyer was a major French insurance company, Suravenir Assurances (a subsidiary of Crédit Mutuel). Jean-Pierre Moueix, owner of Petrus and the large Duclot trading company, takes a minority stake in Château Calon Ségur.

Discovering the terroir and wines of Château Calon Ségur

Since these new owners took over Château Calon Ségur, a serious program to renovate the property has begun, with a particular focus on the winemaking equipment. Following a parcel-by-parcel vinification process, the estate replaced its older vats with new stainless steel vats, the size and number of which varied according to the needs of the winemaking team. Wine is now transferred by gravity. The investments have also changed the overall experience, notably with modifications to the tasting room. It now features a skylight, giving it a more spacious feel. The renovations were completed in 2016. On the vineyard side, the new owners' aim is to decrease the percentage of Merlot, reducing it to just 20% of the vineyard, and add more Cabernet Sauvignon (which seems to be more conducive to the terroir). Today, Château Calon Ségur is planted with 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. Vine density will also increase, from 8,000 vines per hectare to 10,000. So there are major changes on the horizon for this house, which has always been at the forefront of the wine world. It's hardly surprising that it's ahead of its time, given that the decisions taken by its managers are all geared towards one and the same objective: to make the world dream with inimitable wines...