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. Anticipated maturity: 2021 - 2040.
Score: 91 Neal Martin, -, March 2018
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. Drink 2020-2038
Score: 91/93 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (224), April 2016
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.
Score: 94 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, February 2018
A full-bodied red with very dense and chewy tannins. Very persistent and intense. Very fine textured. One of the best Phelans ever?
Score: 93/94 James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, March 2016
The 2015 Phélan Ségur has turned out beautifully. Muscular tannins wrap around a core of red cherry, plum, graphite, crushed flowers and mint. There is plenty of substance in the glass. In fact, this is one of the most polished recent young Phélans I can remember tasting. Floral notes add an appealing upper register, while silky, ripe tannins give the 2015 a good bit of early appeal. Perhaps most importantly, the 2015 is not penalized by the rustic tannins that have been an issue here in the past. 2022 - 2040
Score: 92 Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, February 2018
The 2015 Phélan Ségur is one of the most impressive wines I have tasted here in a number of years. It is also a wine that developed considerably over the two weeks I followed it. Early tastings suggested a deep, powerful Saint-Estèphe, but over the course of a week, the aromatics and finesse seemed to become more apparent. Beautifully ripe, silky tannins wrap around a core of expressive dark red cherry, plum and exotic spices. The decision to pick on the late side certainly was right on the money. This is a pretty and promising wine from the team at Phélan Ségur.
Score: 89/92 Antonio Galloni, vinous.com, April 2016
Very fresh and racy. Lots of St-Estèphe stoniness and great grip. Doesn’t really have a weak point! Though maybe it's a bit too stony and doesn’t have quite enough fruit for a long life.
Drink 2023-2031
Score: 17 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, November 2017
Bright fruit and fine tight finish. Classic stuff though with an undertow of sweet oak. No one could object.
Drink 2025-2040
Score: 16.5 Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, April 2016
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. 2018 - 2032
Score: 90+ Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (Interim Fe), February 2018
The vines of this 70 hectare top "cru bourgeois" are situated between Montrose and Calon Ségur. The vineyard is planted with 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc. Owned by the Gardinier family who also own the famous Taillevent restaurant in Paris. Recent vintages have been well up to classed growth standards. Deep ruby colour with a smoky, spicy nose of christmas cake and black cherry. The palate is spicy with nutmeg and clove, and is framed by firm Medocain tannins. This will need a little time to settle while the tannin integrates into the fruit, but offers classic structure and a good level of ripeness.
Score: 15.5 Farr Vintners, March 2016
I was able to taste the 2015 Phelan Segur on multiple occasion and it showed beautifully both times. Black currants, scorched earth, espresso and hints of chocolate all emerge from this medium to full-bodied, concentrated, firm, structured, dense Saint-Estèphe. It needs 3-4 years of bottle age but will see its 20th birthday in fine form. 2021 - 2036
Score: 91+ Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, November 2017
The nose is fresh the start of the palate firm bramble freshness. Sweet and ripe on the mid palate more depth of flavour rich at the back but the finish is quite light, bright and fresh.
Score: 88/91 Derek Smedley MW, DerekSmedleyMW.co.uk, April 2016
Another impressive St. Estèphe, especially given the late season rains in the appellation
in 2015. Rich, dense and structured, with plush blackcurrant and bramble fruit, textured
tannins and plenty of extract. Very true to its terroir. Drink: 2022-32
Score: 93 Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com, April 2016
Cool, calm and fairly long, the only thing that this wine lacks is complexity. It seems to want to show layers of fruit but I
cannot detect them yet. Bearing in mind the blend there ought to be more light and shade here and I trust it will come
with time, but for now I think it is a little too simple and correct.
Score: 16+ Matthew Jukes, Matthew Jukes' Blog, April 2016
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