Rauzan Ségla 2014

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.

The 2014 Rauzan-Ségla has quite a lush, precocious bouquet with blackberry, raspberry, hints of juniper berry and brown spices, gaining intensity with continued aeration in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin, crisp and focused, precise with a detailed, mineral-driven finish that is a real treat. This is a fine Rauzan-Ségla even if it might ultimately end up as a footnote to the exemplary 2015 and 2016. Tasted blind at the annual Southwold tasting. 2022 - 2050

An excellent 2014, a little austere right now, showcasing that understated Cabernet Sauvignon character of a young classified Left Bank. Plenty of depth to the cassis and blueberry fruits, with sleek cocoa bean and liquorice, stretching out through the palate. 60% new oak, 37hl/h yield, harvest September 22 to October 16. Last year with John Kolasa as director.

Bright healthy crimson. Intense, focused perfume. Juicy and energetic and pure pleasure. Unforced. You could almost enjoy this already. Fine tannins there in abundance but not insistent.
Drink 2023-2040

Now comfortably established in the super-second league. Huge efforts have been made by owners Chanel to make great wine at Rauzan, with production of the first wine only around half of the total harvest. The rest is used for their excellent second wine - Ségla. In our view this 2nd growth is consistently the top wine of the appellation after Palmer and Chateau Margaux itself and it is frequently the winner of the Margaux appellation in our blind tastings. 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 42% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Franc. Deep ruby colour with a purple rim. The nose is aromatic with intense black cherries and violets, with sweet blueberry fruit and vanilla from new oak. Complex, pure and enticing. The palate is silky with very fine and ripe tannins giving a fleet-footed structure and adding vibrancy to the already juicy red and black cherry fruit core. Lifted notes of flowers and sweet spice make this elegant, pure and focused wine a real triumph of the vintage.

This has a lightly firm singed alder frame, which works well with the core of dark currant and plum fruit, melding easily with a velvety back end that lets alluring black tea and anise notes emerge steadily. A bit flashy in style, but will certainly have fans. Best from 2019 through 2029. 9,167 cases made.

The nose has a floral character, violets, fragrant, bright and fresh fruited. Sweet in the middle there is depth of fruit richness fleshy and supple with rounded tannins. The back palate is fresher bright but the finish has depth, sweet fruit richness. 2026-38

This Chanel-owned property has produced a suitably stylish wine in 2014, but one that doesn’t sell at haute couture prices. In fact, it should be among the bargains of the vintage. Elegant, shimmering and silky, with balletic poise, mineral undertones and flavours of cassis, lead pencil and liquorice.