Château Phélan Ségur
Château Phélan Ségur lies in the commune of Saint-Estèphe in the Bordeaux region of France, neighbouring vineyards Château Calon-Ségur and Château Montrose. In a 2003 Cru Bourgeois classification revision, it was listed as one of 9 Cru Bourgeois Exceptionnels.[1]
A second wine is produced since 1986, under the label Frank Phelan. A more recent venture is a wine titled La Croix Bonis.
History
The Irishman Bernard Phelan (1770–1841) acquired the Domaine Le Clos de Garamey in 1805 and Ségur de Cabarnac in 1810. In Ireland, he was a neighbour and friend of Hugh Barton who established Château Léoville-Barton. By his death in 1841 the estate combined to form Château Ségur de Garamey, which passed on to his son Frank Phelan, 30 years a mayor of Saint-Estèphe. The property was sold in July 1919 to Joseph Chayoux,[2] President of Champagne Chamber of Commerce, whom further developed the brand until before the first world war when the property was sold for large fortune on 1928 to a city consortium before the financial crisis of 1930.
The current owner since 1985 is Xavier Gardinier, with sons Thierry, Stéphane and Laurent. Michel Rolland is employed as a consulting enologist.[3]
Production
The vineyard area extends 89 hectares or 220 acres. The grape varieties used are 50% Merlot, 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot.
References
- ^ crus-bourgeois.com 2003 Official List.pdf
- ^ De Ségur à Phélan: histoire d'un vignoble du Médoc (pag. 265), By Jean-Pierre Méric
- ^ J. Suckling, 50 Best Bordeaux under $50, Wine Spectator Magazine, pg. 85, March 31, 2007