Château Calon-Ségur

Calon-Ségur is the most northerly classed growth in St-Estèphe. Vine growing began here in the 12th century, but it didn’t acquire its name until the 18th century. The Marquis de Ségur, owner of Lafite, Latour and Margaux at the time, added his name to the estate along with the word ‘Calon’ - the boats which transported timber down the Gironde. He is famous for reputedly proclaiming, “I make wine at Lafite and Latour but my heart is at Calon-Ségur,” and the famous heart was added to the label at the beginning of the 20th century. Calon-Ségur is notable for its single, 75-hectare vineyard which is surrounded by an unbroken, 1,200m long, thick stone wall. The vineyards' easy-draining clay and gravel soils contain an unusually high proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon and some years can see up to 90% Cabernet used in the Grand Vin. The second wine, Marquis de Calon, is predominantly Merlot based and the estate also grows small amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot.