View analysis




Description
Tasting notes

Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2015 Phelan Segur, a blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon and 47% Merlot aged in 50% new oak, is certainly one of the better offerings from the Saint Estèphe appéllation. For sure, the bouquet is restrained, kept on a leash, but it trots along with crisp blackberry and raspberry fruit, interwoven with an attractive pencil lead note. The palate is medium-bodied with ripe tannin. It is structured and quite bold, considering the storm that swept across the appéllation during harvest, clearly a lot of sorting here that engenders a clean and pure wine with appreciable mineralité and tension on the foursquare finish. If released at a sensible price, then this would be a recommended Saint Estèphe to consumer over 10-12 years.

Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2015 Phélan Ségur has a powerful and expressive bouquet, quite pure if not as complex as some of its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with fine tannin, fresh and tensile with a fine bead of acidity, dovetailing into a conservative blackberry, cedar and tobacco finish that just needs to develop more persistence. Good potential, although it needs to develop more complexity to rank among the top tier this vintage.

Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Medium to deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Phélan Ségur has a nose of red and black currants with earthy notes of fungi, dried herbs, damp soil and tapenade. The palate is medium-bodied with a good fruit core, firm and chewy tannins and nice freshness.

Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2015 Phélan Ségur has quite a bold nose that suggests a little more extraction than its peers. Quite generous in terms of fruit - tobacco-laced strawberry and red currant, a hint of saddle leather with time. The palate is medium-bodied with chalky tannin and a fine bead of acidity. Rather fresh and crisp although, it is missing a little complexity toward the straitlaced finish. I appreciate the balance and focus of this Saint-Estèphe and perhaps it just needs bottle age to manifest more...excitement. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

Reviewed by: James Suckling
A full-bodied red with very dense and chewy tannins. Very persistent and intense. Very fine textured. One of the best Phelans ever?

Reviewed by: James Suckling
This has an air of authority with pristine red fruits, cassis and leafy aromas that lead to a palate with a powerful core of fine, long and fresh tannins. Plenty of ageing potential here. Try from 2025.

Reviewed by: James Suckling
A beautifully perfumed young red with blackcurrants, blackberries and dark chocolate. Some sweet tobacco. It’s medium-to full-bodied with a very balanced and refined palate, showing focus and tightness. This needs time to open. Try after 2023. Reviewed in Hong Kong Chinese Wine Tasting July 2020.
About the Producer
Chateau Phelan Segur is one of the wineries in the Saint-Estephe region of Bordeaux, France, and a member of the Union Des Grands Crus De Bordeaux. Since the beginning of the 19th century, Château Fragrance, located in the heart of the Saint-Estèphe appellation, has commanded majestic views over the Gironde. Irishman Bernard Phelan created this winery by merging two vineyards, Clos de Garramey and Domaine Segur. Later, Bernard's son Frank expanded the industry and changed the name of the winery to "Flying Dragon Family Winery" in the early 20th century. Under the careful care of the owner, the Fragrance Family Winery is famous for its elegant, delicate and mild style wines. In 1985, the Gardinier family bought the winery and it has been in operation ever since. The current vineyard area of Fragrance Saga Winery is 70 hectares, of which 55% of the land is used for Cabernet Sauvignon (Cabernet Sauvignon) grapes, 43% of the land is used to cultivate Merlot (Merlot) grapes, 1% of the land It is used to cultivate Petit Verdot, and 1% of the land is used to cultivate Cabernet Franc grapes. When the grapes reach the ideal ripeness, the winery will pick them manually. After picking, the grapes are screened, peeled, and then fermented in the traditional way. The fermented wine is then aged for 16-18 months in 60% new French oak barrels before being bottled in the winery. The Fragrance family winery produces three dry red wines, namely the Frank Phelan brand and the Fragrance family Bernie dry red wine (La Croix), which is mainly made from Cabernet Sauvignon from better vineyards. Bonis, Saint-Estephe, France), the current average annual production is 200,000 bottles.