Calon-Ségur St-Estèphe 2009

96 points Lisa Perrotti-Brown (Wine Advocate): "The 2009 Calon-Ségur is deep garnet in color and opens with a beautiful fragrance of redcurrant preserves, cassis, black cherry compote and red roses plus nuances of cigar box and cinnamon stick. Medium-bodied and wonderfully elegant in the mouth, it has a compelling line of very ripe, fine-grained tannins and oodles of freshness supporting the fragrant layers, finishing long and perfumed. Drink: 2020-2049. (Mar 2019)"

96 points Jane Anson (Decanter): "A wine that expresses the sun-drenched and opulent character of the vintage, and yet Merlot does not play a leading role. The multi-layered bouquet has real depth with precise and pure aromas of blackberry and spices including cinnamon as well as a touch of tobacco and lead pencil shavings before gaining floral notes on airing. The mouthfeel is juicy and harmonious but it also reveals substantial structure and well-proportioned acidity that provide energy and thrust to attain a finish that is surprisingly light-footed and even delicate. A superb wine possessing all the requisite richness of a fine Calon Ségur as well as the power of the 2009 vintage. Drinking Window: 2022-2035. (Nov 2021)"

93-96 points Wine Spectator: "Delivers gorgeous aromas of blackberry, blueberry and licorice, with hints of tobacco and spice. Full-bodied, offering a lovely texture and refinement. Very long and beautiful, with tangy acidity and lively fruit. A rich, yet very balanced, Calon. This is almost all Cabernet Sauvignon instead of the normal blend with 40 percent Merlot. The château is now using 100 percent new wood. Like the changes. (6/30/10)"

95 points Jeb Dunnuck: "A big step up over the 2008 and, I suspect, the finest wine from this estate in the 2000s, the 2009 Château Calon Ségur reveals a healthy ruby hue to go with textbook notes of red and black currants, tobacco leaf, damp earth, gamey meats, and Asian-like spices. This is classic, traditionally made Bordeaux, with full-bodied richness, a layered, structure mouthfeel, wonderful sweetness of fruit, and a great finish. A wine that starts out tight and reserved yet builds with air, don't be afraid to give bottles plenty of air if drinking any time soon. It's certainly in its drink window, yet also has another 30-40 years of longevity ahead of it. Drink: 2020-2060. (Nov 2020)"

95 points James Suckling: "With a lot of fennel and earth character this is a classic St.-Estèphe, but on the palate it has a suppleness that's modern in the best sense. Needs time to soften. Drink or hold. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019) (3/11/19)"

94+ points Robert Parker: "The 2009 has the highest percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (90%) ever included in a Calon-Segur (the rest is Merlot and Petit Verdot). Completely different from its St.-Estephe brethren, it is more backward and structured with a dense purple color, lots of black cherry, black currant, loamy earth, forest floor and spice notes, excruciatingly high levels of tannin, and a wonderful inner core of sweetness and concentration. It could behave like the 1982, which, at age 30, is just becoming mature. The 2009 is an uncompromising, masculine, massive style of wine that needs 15-20 years of cellaring even in this luscious, flashy, flamboyant vintage. It is super-tight and needs lots of coaxing and aeration. Anticipated maturity: 2025-2050+. (Dec 2011)"