Managed since 2010 by Véronique Dausse, the Château Phélan Ségur has established itself as one of the emblematic properties of Saint-Estèphe, contributing to the reputation of the appellation far beyond the borders of the Médoc.
History
It is no secret that many of the vineyards in Bordeaux are, or have been, owned by wealthy merchants from the Place de Bordeaux. Phélan Ségur Castle is a good example.
It all began at the end of the 18th century when Bernard O'Phelan, a young Irish trader, left his home island to settle in the Bordeaux region. The links between the British island and the city of Bordeaux are undeniable. Among the great families of traders in Bordeaux, many have their roots in Ireland, such as the Johnston, Barton and Clarke families, to name a few.
Following his marriage to the daughter of Daniel Guestier, an influential merchant from the Place de Bordeaux, Bernard O'Phelan came into possession in 1805 of the Clos de Garramey and then in 1810 of the Ségur de Cabanac estate. He will now be able to produce his own wines.
He will build a castle centered on the production of wine. At the top of a croup, facing the estuary of the Gironde, its view is breathtaking. Quite avant-garde for the time, the cuvier and chai will be an integral part of this wonderful building in "Palladian" style.
When he died in 1841, his son Frank took over the ownership of the property. He will not stop developing but above all make his wines shine. Recognized as a true personality in the Médoc, he went so far as to be elected mayor of the town of Saint-Estèphe.
Until then called Château Ségur de Garramey, the property will take the name it is known today (Phélan Ségur) in the early twentieth century.
Successively, the castle will belong to the Delon family as well as to the Gardinier family. The latter will really change the philosophy of the wines of the property. In 2010, they took the decision to install Véronique Dausse as general manager. She will bring with her experience acquired in the past, but above all her modern and dynamic vision.
Fabrice Bacquet, then second in command of the cellar master Alain Coculet, will become, in 2012, the cellar master of the castle. Since then, this duo has never ceased to shine the wines of Phélan Ségur, succeeding in raising the property among the best of the appellation, year after year. In 2018, wishing to focus on other projects, the Gardinier family will cede the Château Phélan Ségur to Philippe Van de Vyvere, a wealthy Belgian entrepreneur having made his fortune in the port and maritime activities, who will finally be able to realize his dream of acquiring a vineyard in Bordeaux.
The vineyard and its terroir
The property has an area of 114 hectares, 70 of which are dedicated to vines. However, the vineyard is not a one-piece, real advantage or real disadvantage, there are several schools. Here, we like to say that a fragmented vineyard is not a disadvantage, quite the contrary. This is a real positive point, especially when there are destructive climatic phenomena for the vineyard (thunderstorm, hail, etc.), it allows, in part, to limit losses.
The plots are close to the largest properties of the appellation, Montrose and Calon Ségur to name but a few.
The vineyard is made up of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon, the king of Médoc, 39% Merlot, plus 1.5% Cabernet Franc and 1.5% Petit Verdot. Each grape variety is complementary during the final blend. The average age of the vines is about 35 years.
The soil, on the other hand, is very rich, mainly composed of a thick layer of clay and sand graves, depending on their geographical location. A diversity of terroirs that allows wines to have a real personality. Cabernet Sauvignons are mainly planted at the top of the slope (more gravel) and Merlot at the bottom of the slope (more clay).
The northernmost communal appellation, Saint-Estèphe enjoys a very unique micro-climate, subject to oceanic influences. Milder winter, less hot summer, the climatic conditions of each season are attenuated. One of the positive points is that spring frost episodes are limited and therefore less devastating for the vineyard. In addition to having a most favorable geographical situation, at Phélan Ségur Castle, agriculture is rational and respectful of biodiversity.
The soil is worked carefully, the vines are either ploughed or grassed (regulates the vigour of the vine, limits mildew), eliminating the use of herbicides and reducing the input. Over the years, the evolution of cultivation techniques and more generally agronomy, as well as increased knowledge of its vineyard, have allowed the castle teams to better understand climate change. The goal is to produce the healthiest and most noble grapes possible, despite increasingly difficult conditions.
Work in the cellar
As presented above, Fabrice Bacquet, cellar master since 2012, performs a real work of goldsmithery within his cellar.
Harvested manually, the bunches are first sorted by hand before passing through an optical sorter in a second time, to be put into tanks afterwards. The number of vats allows a parcel and intra-parcel work, making the stage of vinification of great precision. Reassembly, relieving, pigeage, all the techniques used promote a gentle extraction of tannins, while maintaining the purity and brightness of the fruit.
It is in the contribution of yeast that the teams of the castle are avant-garde. The yeasts used are indigenous and come from the property’s own plots. Fifteen different yeasts are extracted and then introduced into the tanks in relation to their plot. This technique, used since 2014, makes it possible to produce wines with a strong identity of their terroir. Malolactic fermentation is done in barrels, it is at this stage that the wine will gain flexibility and roundness.
During the first 6 months of rearing, lots are reared separately, depending on their plot. The following winter, each batch is tasted by Véronique Dausse, Fabrice Bacquet, Michel Rolland and Julien Viaud, the oenologists' advisors, in order to establish the final blend of the Grand vin and the second wine that will be presented during the week of the first wines. Once this decision has been made, the different batches are assembled and then put into barrels to continue their aging for an additional 12 months. The total duration is therefore, on average and according to the vintage, of about 18 months. For this purpose, oak barrels are used, of which a maximum of 50% is composed of new wood, the rest being barrels of one or two wines. Between 5 and 7 different coopers are meticulously selected by the castle and 16 different types of barrels are therefore chosen.
With such diversity of barrels, it is easy to understand how aging plays a fundamental role in the complexity and uniqueness of wine. Each barrel, by its origin, its heating level and the know-how of the cooper, brings a subtle but decisive touch to the final blend. This mosaic of woody influences allows the château to refine the aromatic expression and structure of the wine, always seeking the perfect balance between power, finesse and elegance. Once the breeding is finished, the bottling takes place at the château.
Under the impetus of a visionary and committed duo, and thanks to talented teams, both in the vineyard and in the winery, Château Phélan Ségur is among the leading figures of this beautiful appellation of Saint-Estèphe. Radiating finesse, elegance and depth, it is established over the vintages as one of the best. Very often rewarded by favourites of tasters, critics or the general public, it is an iconic property, dedicated to the production of great wines of guard.