Frank Phelan (Various Vintages)

Château Phélan Ségur is a historic estate in Saint-Estèphe, on Bordeaux’s Left Bank. Its origins date to the early 19th century, when Irishman Bernard O’Phelan brought together vineyards that would later form Château Phélan Ségur.

Today, the estate’s vineyards overlook the Gironde estuary and grow on the gravel and clay soils typical of Saint-Estèphe. This terroir gives the wines structure, freshness and excellent ageing potential.

Frank Phélan 2020 – Second Wine of Château Phélan Ségur

Frank Phélan was created in 1986 and takes its name from the son of Bernard Phélan, the estate’s founder. It is the official second wine of Château Phélan Ségur.

The wine comes from around 15 hectares, including old vines together with selected younger vines. Moreover, it follows the style of the Grand Vin while offering a rounder and more approachable expression of Saint-Estèphe.

The Frank Phélan 2020 combines ripe fruit with the firm structure expected from the Médoc. However, silky tannins and good freshness make the wine attractive even at a relatively young age.

Grape Varieties

For the 2020 vintage, the blend is:

• 60% Merlot
• 40% Cabernet Sauvignon

Merlot gives the wine ripe fruit, richness and a smooth texture. Meanwhile, Cabernet Sauvignon provides structure, freshness and classic Médoc character.

Vinification & Maturation

The estate harvests its grapes by hand before careful sorting and optical selection. Fermentation takes place over approximately 12 days, followed by a maceration of more than 20 days. The wines then begin malolactic fermentation in barrel.

Maturation:

• 14 months ageing
• Oak barrel maturation
• 50% one-year-old barrels
• 50% two-year-old barrels

Therefore, Frank Phélan does not rely heavily on new oak. Instead, the maturation adds depth and polish while keeping the fruit at the centre of the wine.

Tasting Notes

• Colour: Deep ruby red
• Aroma: Blackcurrant, blackberry, dark plum, spice, graphite and cedar
• Palate: Rich and structured with ripe dark fruit and silky tannins
• Finish: Long and refined with graphite, spice and subtle cocoa notes

The estate describes Frank Phélan as combining intense, generous fruit with an elegant structure and silky tannins.

Rating

93 Points – James Suckling

The 2020 shows the depth of the vintage particularly well, with dark fruit, spice, graphite and a firm yet velvety tannin structure.

Food Pairings

Frank Phélan 2020 pairs beautifully with:

• Ribeye steak
• Roast beef
• Lamb
• Duck
• Venison
• Game
• Roast poultry
• Mature cheeses

Moreover, the estate’s technical information recommends beef, lamb, venison and poultry.

Drinking Window

2025–2035+

The 2020 is already entering an attractive drinking phase. However, its Saint-Estèphe structure and Cabernet component give it enough backbone for further development.

For a more mature style, I would hold bottles toward 2028–2035. Decanting for around an hour should help if you serve it now.

Style and Character

The Frank Phélan 2020 offers an excellent introduction to the style of Château Phélan Ségur. Moreover, its high Merlot content gives the wine a generous and approachable character.

Cabernet Sauvignon adds structure and freshness, while 14 months of barrel ageing brings the blend together. As a result, the wine combines dark fruit, fine tannins and classic Saint-Estèphe character.

Overall, Frank Phélan 2020 offers much of the pedigree of its Grand Vin in a softer and earlier-drinking style. It is an excellent choice for Bordeaux lovers looking for a quality Saint-Estèphe with strong value and ageing potential