Deep garnet with a soft brick rim, this 2011 Phélan Ségur shows all the understated class of mature Saint-Estèphe. The nose opens with notes of blackcurrant, cedar, and tobacco leaf, layered with graphite, cocoa, and a hint of violet. On the palate, it’s supple yet structured with ripe cassis and dark plum framed by fine-grained tannins and a touch of savoury spice. Balanced, elegant, and beginning to show beautiful secondary complexity, it finishes long, smoky, and refined.

For when: dinner’s slow, the lights are low, and the conversation runs deep.
Pairs with: roast beef, lamb cutlets, or hard cheeses.
If this wine were a suit, it’d be Savile Row - timeless, understated, and perfectly fitted.

Château Phélan Ségur, founded in the early 19th century by Irishman Bernard Phelan, is one of Saint-Estèphe’s most respected estates. Its 70 hectares of gravel and clay soils sit between Calon-Ségur and Montrose, producing Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot of power and poise. The 2011 vintage was challenging for some but was handled here with finesse, yielding a wine of precision and balance that has aged gracefully over a decade.