2015, Château Rauzan-Ségla, MARGAUX

Bordeaux Blend: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc.

Developing beautifully, this may not last quite as long as the 2016 but it still has decades ahead of it, and with so much to enjoy along the way. It's very different in personality from the 2016: this is more sumptuous, a real mouthful, creamy in texture and full of plump cassis and damson fruits. Ground coffee, liquorice and patisserie notes fill the mid-palate, making it full of pleasure. Harvest ran from 10 September to 9 October, giving a yield of 40hl/ha. 3.7pH. 65% new oak. 95 Jane Anson, Decanter (2019).

Dating back to 1661, Rauzan-Ségla had under-performed for many years prior to its purchase in 1994 by Chanel owners, the Wertheimer family. With significant investment, the estate has regained its former glory. Highly successful in 2015, this is refined, elegant and precise with a bright red/black fruit character and lovely freshness on the palate. It will benefit from a few more years in bottle but undoubtedly has star-quality. 96 Andy Howard MW, Decanter (2019).

Deep garnet-purple in colour, the 2015 Rauzan-Ségla offers up an expressive nose of baked blackberries, kirsch, warm cassis and baked plums with hints of cigar box and tilled soil. Full-bodied, rich and expansive in the mouth, it has layer upon layer of bold red and black fruit preserves with earthy accents and a velvety texture, finishing long and lively.The blend this year is 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, harvested between September 10th and October 9th, at an average yield of 40 hectolitres per hectare. It was aged for 18 months in French oak, 65% new. The alcohol is 14%, and the pH is 3.7. 97 Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (2020).

The 2015 Rauzan-Segla (Rausan-Segla) was a magnificent wine out of barrel, but what matters, of course, is how you and I find this Margaux in bottle. Well, it has a disarmingly beautiful, almost haunting bouquet with pure black fruit laced with cedar, orange blossom and violet aromas that blossom in the glass. I cannot recollect a Rauzan-Segla as delineated as this. The palate is medium-bodied but with ripe, quite bold tannin that lends this wine much more volume than in previous vintages. This just fills the mouth and satiates the senses. There is a fine line of acidity here and tints of black truffle. There is a wondrous mineral tension on the finish and yet this is a Margaux that is determined and succeeds in satiating all the senses...apart from sound. So put your favourite musician on and savour this exceptional wine over the coming years. A benchmark. 97 Neal Martin, Vinous (2018). 

The 2015 Ségla is a very pretty second wine with lovely aromatic complexity and depth. Succulent and racy, the 2015 expresses the radiant personality of the vintage nicely. Savoury herb and floral touches add aromatic nuances throughout. 91 Antonio Galloni, Vinous (2017).

Drinking Window: 2025 - 2042