Rauzan Segla

Matured at the heart of this historic vineyard, Rauzan-Ségla is an iron fist in a velvet glove. Its modesty and clear delicate touch hide a deep, intense heart. Staying true to the Margaux application, it is a truly noble nectar. Grace that reveals restraint. Multifaceted complexity. Pure sophistication and the charm of tenacity. Smooth nobility. Intense tannins. Ageing potential.

Winemaker notes

The first nose discloses subtle floral notes of centifolia rose and hawthorn. The delicate springlike structure is refreshed by sappy notes of white flowers. After a few swirls in the glass the nose develops a delectable chocolatey character combining praline and coffee. The palate opens up with its typical, velvety smooth attack and beautifully coated tannins. A certain dynamism underpins the palate and tempers the density of the vintage. The 2020 is a complex, powerful and expertly crafted wine that has overcome the difficulties of this very challenging year with aplomb . 

2000

Vinous 93: The 2000 Rauzan-Ségla is deep in color. The bouquet is similar to the bottle poured a couple of years ago, featuring blueberry and Provençal herbs, the secondary and primary scents commingling to wonderful effect. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins and tarry black fruit, and quite structured and fresh, leading to a grippy, saline finish. A redoubtable, almost swarthy Margaux that should drink well for another 20 years or more. Superb.

Wine Advocate 90: Deep brick in color, the 2000 Rauzan-Ségla gives a mature nose of sandalwood, sweaty leather, cinnamon stick and star anise with wafts of raisin cake, dried cherries and preserved plums. Medium-bodied with a chewy texture and a good amount of remaining dried berries and savory layers, it finishes just a little rustic.

2006

Wine Advocate 92: Deep garnet in color with a touch of brick, the 2006 Rauzan-Ségla gives up dusty earth, sandalwood, cigar and Indian spices scents with a core of mincemeat pie, prunes and dried mulberries plus a waft of dried roses. Medium-bodied, firm and chewy, it has bags of freshness supporting the muscular core of evolved, spicy fruit, finishing minerally.

James Suckling 92: Very pure fruit in this wine with flowers and red fruits such as raspberries on the nose and palate. It’s full-bodied with fine tannins and a fresh finish.

Decanter 93: A good spring and summer were followed by light rains in autumn which slightly ruined the party, meaning this 2006 was pretty tannic in its youth, and you can still see its power and density. It's very Left Bank in feel, with classic signatures of complexity and freshness. It's impressive that it still feels pretty young and full of juice, and is a great food wine thanks to the blue brambly fruits that are full of elegance. 52hl/ha yield. 50% new oak.

Wine Enthusiast 93: A big, ripe chocolate-flavored wine with spice, new wood and a smooth, polished character. It is rich, with black currant jelly flavors, but this richness is balanced with a lively freshness and subtlety in its tannins. The finish is long, the flavors echoing the perfumes on the nose. 

2011

Wine Advocate 92: Deep garnet colored, the 2011 Rauzan-Ségla displays a series of earthy notes to begin—truffles, moss-covered bark, fungi and tilled soil—over a core of redcurrant jelly, blackberry pie and mincemeat with hints of sandalwood, new leather and fallen leaves. Medium-bodied with a firm line of chewy, slightly rustic tannins, it has a great core of earth-laced black fruits with provocative freshness and a long mineral-tinged finish.

James Suckling 93: A wine with a beautiful aromas and flavors of dark fruits, minerals and dried flowers. Full body, integrated tannins and a fresh finish. A little chewy but will soften with age. Better in 2017.

2014

Wine Advocate 93: The deep garnet colored 2014 Rauzan-Ségla reveals an open-knit, expressive nose of potpourri, unsmoked cigars, spice box and red loam with a core of plum preserves, blackcurrant jelly and bay leaves plus a touch of garrigue. Medium to full-bodied with compelling earthy layers and a real savoriness in the mouth, it has firm, chunky tannins and bold freshness, finishing on a lingering mineral note.

James Suckling 95: Fantastic aromas of blackberries, blackcurrants and strawberries follow through to a full body, super-integrated tannins and an extremely long finish. The bright acidity gives the wine a linear edge that focuses in all the fruit. Minerally. Drink in 2021.

Vinous 91: The 2014 Rauzan-Segla has a fragrant nose with red berry fruit, cedar, mint and a dab of dark chocolate. Fairly backward at first, it opens nicely in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannins. It is a bit rustic in style, but there is satisfying depth and fruit concentration. Blackberry mixes with white pepper and bay leaf toward the finish. For the château in question, it comes across a bit assertive in style, but it pulls it off. It is not bad, though it's surpassed by almost every subsequent vintage. Tasted blind at the Southwold 10-Year-On tasting.

Wine Enthusiast 95: This is a full-bodied wine, from one of the leading estates in Margaux. It is ripe with juicy blackberry and black-currant fruits. This fruit contrasts with the dark tannins and powerful structure. It is going to develop slowly and impressively to be ready to drink from 2025.

2020

Wine Advocate 96: The 2020 Rauzan-Ségla is showing brilliantly in bottle. Wafting from the glass with aromas of cassis and minty blackberries mingled with violets and licorice, it's medium to full-bodied, suave and seamless, with a deep core of vibrant fruit, beautifully refined tannins and a harmonious, integrated profile that exudes elegance. A wine of immense character and refinement, it's the best vintage from this estate in recent times.

James Suckling 97: A very polished red with blackberry, black olive, walnut, and crushed stone aromas that follow through to a medium to full body with polished, velvety tannins that go on for minutes. Surprisingly open and so attractive. Wonderful length to this. Needs four to five years to open. Best after 2026.

Decanter 98: Juicy and lively fragrance on the nose – so perfumed and alluring. Delicate and pure on the palate, crystalline yet with such intensity. A rush of creamy tangy strawberries, herbal-edged raspberries and plum fruit lined with salty minerality gives the nuance and detail. It’s lightly framed with well integrated tannins that are fine and firm, tense just giving some tightness on the mid-palate, a sense of compactness, but then it opens again towards the finish. Cool and ethereal, this exudes charm and confidence. Extremely well made and totally seductive. I love the juiciness and sense of joyfulness, but it’s also beguiling as it deepens and grows in layers of chalk, slate, bramble fruits, perfume and florality. Another excellent wine from Rauzan with delicacy, detall and drinkability. Stunning.

Wine Enthusiast 96: This wine has a fine structure, with dense tannins from the Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. It is a full wine, the spicy character mingling with black currant flavors. The wine has an excellent future. Drink from 2027.