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History
This noble house was the main centre in Gallo-Roman times, the cradle of Saint-Estèphe. The name of the commune used to be “Calones” and, until the 18th century, it was called: Saint-Estèphe-de-Calon. The main fief of the lords of Lesparre, Calon which gave its name to the bishop of Poitiers - Monsignor de Calon - in 1157, passed to the younger branch, the Gombaud family as recorded in an ancient deed dated 10 June 1362.After the conquest of Guyenne, the vineyard became in turn the property of the d’Albret family, of messire Jean de Lur (July 1481), of Pierre de Marsan (August 1511) and finally of M. de Gasq. At the end of the 17th century, Calon passed into the hands of the "Prince of Vines", Nicolas de Segur, whose other holdings included Lafite and Latour. The Marquis de Ségur took the name Ségur-Calon and in memory of him, this magnificent property, was named after him and called Calon-Ségur. In fact, the heart on the label signifies the motto of Calon-Segur, said to come from Nicolas de Segur himself: "I make wine at Lafite and Latour, but my heart is at Calon." The estate has been divided over the centuries (Montrose and Phelan Segur were formerly part of the Calon estate), and is currently owned by Denise Capbern Gasqueton who lives at the chateau.To substantiate the long-standing cultivation of vines on the lands of Calon-Ségur, there are any numbers of authentic documents. They all endorse the centuries-old hallmark of “Premier cru de Saint-Estèphe”. In the same way the famous 1855 classification was bound to include the vineyard and its château in its prestigious hierarchy. But he acquires the rank of third growth by the classification of 1855. Even today, Calon-Ségur, still for the most part enclosed in its walls, covers an area of 60 hectares. The vineyards (Cabernet Sauvignon 65%, Merlot 20%, Cabernet Franc 15%) lie on up to 5 metre deep gravel beds mixed with sand and, in parts, limestone and clay. The wines are fermented for 3 weeks in enamel-lined steel vats and are then matured in oak barriques (40% new) for18 months. Recently, Calon-Ségur has hit form with notable successes in 1995 and 1996 and 2000. At its best, Calon-Ségur produces meaty and concentrated wines displaying excellent depth of fruit and superb length. For this reason they have won some of the very highest awards at various Exhibitions in Paris, Liège, Bordeaux, Saint-Louis, etc.
Nowadays’ owner: Capbern-Gasqueton
Administrator: Denise Capbern-Gasqueton
Technique Information
Location: The most northern of all the classified growths of the Medoc, just north and west of the village of Saint Estephe.
Appellation: Appellation Saint Estephe Controlee
Neighboring Chateau: Chateau Montrose(2nd Growth of Saint-Esrephe in 1855)
Acreage: 60 hectares
Soil: The vineyardslie on up to 5 metre deep gravel beds mixed with sand and, in parts, limestone and clay.
Grape Varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon 65%, Merlot 20%, Cabernet Franc 15%.
Average age of vines: 38 years
Cultivation Density: 5,600 vins/ha
Viticulture: Hand picked
Winemaking: The wines are fermented for 3 weeks in enamel-lined steel vats and are then matured in oak barriques (40% new) for18 months.
Yield: 40-45hl/ha
Brand: Château Calon-Ségur(First Label)(A.O.C. Saint Estephe)
Marquis de Calon(Second Label)(A.O.C. Saint Estephe)
La Chapelle De Calon(Second Label)(A.O.C. Saint Estephe)
Annually production: 20,000 cases
Character:
Calon-Ségur produces meaty and concentrated wines displaying excellent depth of fruit and superb length.
Best Vintages: 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006
Awards: 3rd Growth of Saint-Estephe in 1855
Serving Suggestion
Cellar Humidity and Temperature: 75-85 %, 15℃
Serving Temperature: 17℃-19℃
Optimum drinking and ageing potential: 10-30 years
Food match:
Western Food: Beef / Casseroles / Turkey / Soft Cheese
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