ABOUT THE WINE

Appellation | Saint Éstephe

Grape | 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 47% Merlot.

Pairing | You may need to be a whizz in the kitchen for the pairing here, but in case you are willing. This is the ideal pairings we can find.

- Cassoulet with goose confit, pigeon with peas, garden pheasant, spring lamb.

Drinking | 2023-2035. 

Critic Notes / Awards | Jeff Leve : 92, Guide Parker : 91-93, Vinous : 92, Neal Martin : 91 Jancis Robinson : 16,5 Decanter : 90

ABOUT THE CHÂTEAU

The official history of Chateau Phelan Segur began when two previous Bordeaux vineyards were brought together, Clos de Garramey and Segur. Those properties also located in the Saint Estephe appellation were combined by Bernard Phelan, who using the traditional custom of the time, combined the existing Segur name with his own and Chateau Phelan Segur was born.

By 1860, Bernard Phelan had created the largest vineyard in the entire Saint Estephe appellation. The beautiful, stately chateau was built by Frank Phelan, the son of Bernard Phelan in the late 1860s.
Before Bernard Phelan purchased Segur, it was previously owned by Nicolas Alexandre de Segur who was known by the well-earned nickname, “The Prince of Vines”.

De Segur owned numerous, famous, Bordeaux chateaux in the Medoc during his life including Brane Mouton, which later became Chateau Mouton Rothschild, as well as Lafite, which eventually morphed into Chateau Lafite Rothschild and Chateau Latour! When you think about it, it's truly amazing that one family owned 3 First Growth estates at the same time!

Chateau Phelan Segur, The Modern Era
In 1883, Chateau Phelan Segur passed to new owners. Jumping ahead, in 1946, the property was purchased by the Delon family, the current owners of Chateau Leoville Las Cases in St. Julien and Nenin in Pomerol. The Delon family, headed by Michel Delon eventually sold the vineyard to the former head of Pommery Champagne, Xavier Gardinier in 1985.

As there is a harvest in Bordeaux every year, with very few exceptions, chateaux produce wine in every vintage. That was not the case in the early days of ownership by the Gardinier family here. They refused to sell their first three vintages in a row of Chateau Phelan Segur, 1983, 1984, and 1985!

The 1983 Phelan Segur was produced and released, but the wine was recalled from the marketplace by the new owner, Xavier Gardinier. Xavier Gardinier eventually sued to claim that herbicides used by the estate contaminated and ruined the wines of Chateau Phelan Segur making them unsaleable.

The Gardinier family won their suit and from that time forward, they have continued improving the wines of Pelan Segur and for a time, expanding the estate as well. In 2002, they purchased 25 hectares of vines from Chateau Houissant, which is located not far from Chateau Montrose.

Today, the Left Bank property in Saint Estephe is managed by another member of the family, Thierry Gardinier. Thierry Gardinier is also responsible for several other Bordeaux vineyards including Chateau Meyney in Saint Estephe and Chateau Grand Puy Ducasse in Pauillac.

In August 2017, Chateau Phelan Segur was sold for more than 90 million Euros! A record-setting price for a Crus Bourgeois. The vineyard was sold to the wealthy Belgian investor, Philippe Van de Vyvere, who is best known for owning Sea-Invest, one of the world’s largest shipping companies.

Current Owner: Philippe Van de Vyvere

Soils: Humus gravel at Fontpetite (top of mounds). Clayey gravel in Chanchot. Sandy gravel at Fontpetite (middle of the slopes)

Farming: Respect for the ground is a daily concern. The vines are plowed, virtually eliminating the use of weedkiller. Others are on the contrary grassed, which allows less leaching and better regulation of vigour. Soil manure is mostly organic. Biodiversity is preserved.

Vines: 40 years old on average.