Chateau Seguin isn't a property that steals headlines. It is situated in Canejan village, close to Pessac. Its appellation is Pessac-Leognan. Darriet family has owned it since 1987, and the man in charge is now Denis Darriet, who, before coming to Seguin, worked in Paris as a jeweler for famous jewelry makers like f.i. Cartier, and made exclusive creations for the most-known celebrities in the world.
During my first visit to the property in September 2010, I became very impressed with the wines when I participated in a press trip for wine journalists in the district organized by Graves(Pessac-Leognan syndicate). I stayed at Seguin throughout the whole trip.
Then, in March 2011, I had a vertical there from vintage 2004 to 2010. I must admit, I was left breathless while tasting 2010. It was an outstanding, if not sensational, performance. It was an unforgettable visit. Visits in September 2011, March and September 2012/2013, April and September 2014, March 2015 and October 2015, and April and October 2016/2017/2018 confirmed Seguin's excellent quality today. Ienis Darriet has transferred his skills and dedication from making costly jewelry to his wines!
He produces regular cuvée, Chateau Seguin and luxury cuvée from old Merlot vines, Confidence(s) de Chateau Seguin. The latter is 2-3 times the price of regular cuvée.
Denis Darriet (right), the owner of Seguin, is in the cellar with his winemaker, Xavier. October 2018
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SEGUIN 2023 (barrel sample) 94p
Tasted in April 2024. 58% C. Sauvignon + 42% Merlot. Blackcurrants, blueberries, and tobacco on the noses, smoky, vibrant, bright acidity, silky texture, fine midpalate, long finish. An elegant and finesse-clad version in 2023 compared to the powerful 2022. Well-crafted effort.
SEGUIN 2022 (barrel sample) 95p
Tasted in April 2023. 55% C. Sauvignon + 45% Merlot. 14% alcohol. Powerful and tight, blueberries, violets, and roses, smoky, mineral, vibrant, bright acidity, silky texture, fine midpalate, long finish. Excellent effort.
SEGUIN 2020 95+p
Tasted twice - last time in November 2022. Consistent notes. 70% Cabernet Sauvignon + 30% Merlot. 14% alcohol. First vintage with Stephane Derenencourt's team as an external consultant. Grapes from old Merlot vines were included in Seguin in this vintage. Intense nose of ripe Cabernet Sauvignon with tobacco leaf. Mineral, vibrant, lush berries and grained tannin, great complexity and length, elegant and refined. Totally impressive stuff.
SEGUIN 2019 94p
Tasted twice - last time in November 2022. Consistent notes. 55% Merlot + 45% Cabernet Sauvignon. There is more Merlot in this vintage than usual. It was a nice and attractive wine, with delicate aromatics on the nose and violet, mint, and cherries. Silky on the palate, with superb balance, a gentle kiss of oak, and a lingering finish. It's a great effort, delicate and seductive.
SEGUIN 2018 94+p
Tasted twice - last time in December 2020. This property came back with a vengeance in 2018!! Very scented and aromatic nose of blueberries, rich, great complexity, and length, elegant and refined. Impressive stuff.
SEGUIN 2017 - no wine was produced due to the devastating frost in April 2017.
SEGUIN 2016 (barrel sample) 94+p
Tasted twice - last time in October 2017. Consistent notes. This wine is 45% Cabernet Sauvignon and 55% Merlot, yielding 43 hl/ha. There are intense blackberries and cherries on the nose, velvety fruit and tannin, seductive fruit sweetness, and a long aftertaste. Sleek and attractive wine, impressive stuff indeed.
SEGUIN 2015 94p
Tasted four times - last time in October 2018. Consistent notes. This wine showed great delicacy with sweet, silky fruit and tannin, sophisticated and seductive, and very aromatic black- and blueberries. Candy. It tasted a bit down-scaled in October 2018.
SEGUIN 2014 93+p
Tasted five times - last time in October 2017. Consistent notes. Impressive nose of violets and black fruit, splendid acidity, well-balanced, excellent structure, and length. Long finish. It is a remarkable effort for the vintage and exciting wine from a calm and quiet vintage. It's a long-term keeper.
SEGUIN 2013 (barrel sample) 91p
Tasted twice - last time in March 2015. Consistent notes. Flowery on the nose with fine acidity and delicate structure. Understandably lighter than in 2012. Mineral and well-balanced. Excellent effort in this troubled vintage.
SEGUIN 2012 92p
I tasted it seven times, the last time in March 2016. Consistent notes. This wine seduced with violets and crushed blueberries, finely grained fresh tannin, and a silky texture and velvety finish. It was a splendid effort for the vintage.
SEGUIN 2011 93p
Tasted nine times - last time in September 2015. Consistent notes. This wine offered a splendid nose of ripe cherries, excellent depth, and intensity. Silky on the palate with firm structure, lovely length, and smooth aftertaste. This vintage is a great value for money.
SEGUIN 2010 95+p
Tasted ten times - last time in October 2017. Consistent notes. This wine's been keeping me thrilled since its birth. To have such a fabulous nose of black cherries and so intense silky black fruit on the palate, combined with stunning balance and complexity. It's undoubtedly the best wine this property has ever made and a fantastic achievement. Wow! In March 2014, this wine threw its "baby fat" away, became quite tannic, and closed. In September 2015, it opened up once again. Thrill to taste!! In October 2017, it displayed a beautiful cherry nose and was tightly crafted, powerful with great complexity and structure, excellent acidity, and length. The best vintage for Seguin ever by any means - stunning effort!
SEGUIN 2009 92-93p
Tasted ten times - last time in October 2017. Consistent notes. It was a very intense wine with gobs of blackberries and black cherries, exquisite balance, finesse and elegance, and a sophisticated touch. Beautiful, classy wine and great effort indeed. It was closed while tasted in March 2014 but seduced with open arms in September 2014. In October 2017, it tasted lighter and was as seductive as before. Closed phase?
SEGUIN 2008 92p
Tasted five times - last time in March 2016. Consistent notes. Not as striking as in 2009, but there's nothing to complain about. This wine was mineral, multifaceted, well constructed and structured, massive on the palate, and had a sophisticated touch. Fine effort for the vintage.
SEGUIN 2007 87p
Tasted in March 2011. Light, round and pleasant, earthy flavors, short aftertaste. Won't win by additional cellaring.
SEGUIN 2006 90p
Tasted in March 2011. Very attractive on the nose, well-knitted, elegant, and with a firm finish. Nice effort.
SEGUIN 2005 94p
Tasted three times - last time in September 2015. Consistent notes. This wine was made by the winemaker, who worked at Seguin before Xavier arrived in 2007. Still, you feel the character of the soil and what nature gave to the winemaker. This vintage was one of the easiest to make for many reasons. It had an aromatic nose of beautiful sweet cherries, great complexity, and stunning length. Riveting stuff!
SEGUIN 2004 91p
Tasted twice - last time in March 2014. Consistent notes. It had a seductive nose of black fruit and milk chocolate, a soft texture, superb balance, and an elegant and smooth finish. Lovely wine, ready to drink.
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CONFIDENCE(S) DU CHATEAU SEGUIN 2019 96+p
Tasted in November 2022. Made from old Merlot vines, Powerful and intense on the nose and palate, with fabulous aromas of black cherries and black winter truffle, sophisticated with great minerality, structure, depth, and awesome complexity. A fabulous wine with a great personality.
CONFIDENCE(S) DU CHATEAU SEGUIN 2016 96p
Tasted in October 2018. Fat and concentrated, long and highly complex. Amazing stuff.
CONFIDENCE(S) DU CHATEAU SEGUIN 2010 96p
Tasted twice - last time in September 2015. Consistent notes. More concentrated and fatter wine than in 2009. Tannin is riper here. Amazing stuff.
CONFIDENCE(S) DU CHATEAU SEGUIN 2009 95+p
Tasted three times - last time in March 2015. Consistent notes. This luxury cuvee made from old vines was more profound and had a longer finish than regular cuvee. It was imposing and stunning wine.
CONFIDENCE(S) DU CHATEAU SEGUIN 2006 91p
Tasted in September 2014. Dusty flavors, a bit earthy, ripe grapes, lovely intensity, and length. It was perhaps lacking more precision.
CONFIDENCE(S) DU CHATEAU SEGUIN 2005 94p
Tasted twice - last time in March 2016. Consistent notes. It has a cherry nose and a cherry flavor on the palate. It is beautifully constructed with splendid complexity and depth, excellent balance, and a long, meaty finish. Impressive stuff.
CONFIDENCE(S) DU CHATEAU SEGUIN 2004 92p
Tasted twice - last time in March 2014. Consistent notes. Denis Darriet makes this wine from the selection of the best Seguin parcels. It is an imposing wine showing incredibly aromatic black fruit (blueberries), tight, concentrated, complex, well-structured, and superbly long finish. Excellent treat!