Estate Wine Brokers has recently learned that Chateau Phelan Segur, a 70-hectare property in the commune of Saint-Estephe, is set to be sold to Belgian businessman Philippe Van de Vyvere in early 2018 for an undisclosed sum. Founded in the early 18th century by an Irish courtier, Phelan Segur was purchased by the Gardinier family in 1985, and its scores have been steadily rising for the past decade under the supervision of chateau director Veronique Dausse and consulting enologist Michel Rolland. The estate produces roughly 35,000 cases annually, and a majority of that production is accounted for by the first wine, a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 10% Cabernet Franc culled from well-drained gravel and clay soils typical of the northern Medoc.

The Gardiniers have not disclosed their motivations for this transaction, but it is widely speculated that this move indicates a shift in focus towards the family’s large holdings in the hotel, fine dining, and retail sectors (not to mention a divestment from what is otherwise an expensive asset). For his part, Van de Vyvere's stated intention is that “Phélan Ségur remains one of the great wines of the St-Estèphe AOC,” and he plans to keep the current winemaking and management teams in place. Given the upward trajectory of the wines over the past decade, we believe that this may be an ideal time to invest, as a substantial injection of capital into the estate will surely yield further improvements in the coming years.