A luxurious wine with really a rather beautiful texture to the palate. You get the sweetness of the black cherry and damson fruits - gorgeous flavours that make this a hedonistic style of Marquis de Calon that will make lots of people very happy. I almost hate to add that, as with the grand vin, I question the typicity and the touch of heat. The alcohols are so much higher than usual because the ripening happened quicker than usual, and the soils here are a kind of clay that heats up more quickly than cooler limestone and clay soils as found at Capbern. 41hl/ha yield. 3.65pH. 91 points

53% Merlot, 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, pH 3.65, 30% new oak. Inky core with purple rim. Riper and initially sweeter on the nose than the Capbern. Juicy blackberry and cassis. Sweet and juicy on the palate too, with finesse that is all elegant tannins but the bright fruit lifts the structure to a long, fresh and cool finish. Mouth-watering and moreish. Clean, dry finish. 17 points

The 2018 Le Marquis de Calon-Ségur is a blend of 53% Merlot and 47% Cabernet Sauvignon (14.9% alcohol). It is anticipated to age for 17 months in barriques, 30% new. Deep purple-black in color, it gives up opulent scents of Indian spices, menthol and plum preserves with a core of crème de cassis, baked cherries and raspberry pie plus a hint of sandalwood. Big, rich, full-bodied and voluptuously fruited in the mouth, it has bags of black fruit preserves and exotic spices with a firm, plush frame, finishing long with a minty lift. Definitely one for the hedonists! 92-94 points

The 2018 Le Marquis de Calon Ségur is a drop-dead gorgeous second wine from Calon Ségur. Bright, lifted and punchy, the 2018 has so much to offer. Expressive floral, savory and spiced notes from the Cabernet add shades of nuance to a core of dark red and purplish berry fruit. Beautifully textured and inviting, the Marquis is positively stunning in 2018. The blend is 53% M erlot and 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, mostly young vines planted between 2008 and 2012. It is a gorgeous second wine from Calon Ségur. Tasted four times. 91-93 points

The second wine includes only Merlot and young Cabernet fruit, as all the old-vine Cabernet went into the grand vin. Young, according to Vincent Millet, means up to eight to twelve years old. The blend is 53% Merlot and 47% Cabernet Sauvignon, the yield 41 hl/ha and the pH 3.65. Despite the focus here being on Merlot, the alcohol level is exactly the same as the grand vin, at 14.9%. It begins with a very expressive nose of nicely defined peppered plum, dusted with limestone and floral elements. The palate is pretty, fresh, quite elegant, taut and bright, especially considering the assemblage and alcohol, with rich grip but also a pretty frame. It has a lot of energy, regardless of is very polished style, is rich in velvety Merlot tannins, and there is bright acidity. Overall a substantial but fresh and elegant second wine, one which is certainly a success. The élevage will be 17 months in 30% new oak barrels. 92-94 points