| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > Margaux |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
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. The 70 hectare vineyard is planted with 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot with a touch of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Average vine age is 37 years. In our view this second growth is consistently the leading wine of the appellation after Palmer and Château Margaux itself - and it is frequently the winner of the Margaux appellation in our blind tastings. New winemaker Nicolas Audebert arrived following stints at Krug and making Cheval des Andes for LVMH in South America. He certainly had a terrific start here with a quite outstanding 2015, which has been followed by a string of great successes. A Farr Vintners favourite and a château on top form.
In 2025 the yield was similar to the previous two harvests at 29hl/ha. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 1.5% Petit Verdot and 0.5% Cabernet Franc. It will spend 18 months in oak - 60% new. Alcohol 13.5%. In 2025 a new cold room was used to store the grapes for 24 hours before sorting. As usual about half the crop will be relegated to the popular Ségla label.
The 2025 Rauzan-Ségla is promising, opening in the glass with notes of cassis, pencil shavings, sweet soil tones and a deft framing of new oak. Medium- to full-bodied, bright and layered, it's vibrant and concentrated, with a chassis of fine tannins and a penetrating, youthfully structured finish.
The 2025 Rauzan-Ségla was picked September 2 to 15 at 29 hl/ha and matured in 60% new oak barrels. This has a slight marine scent on the nose, well defined and marked by pure black fruit laced with violet. Quintessential Rauzan Ségla. The palate is medium-bodied with pliant but firm tannins, just gorgeous caressing black fruit, bright acids that lend an almost sorbet-like freshness and vibrancy to the finish. This is a top-class Margaux and one of the best wines from the estate in recent years. Drink 2031-2060.
Rauzan Segla is excellent this year, subtle but accented in all the right ways to make it a very enticing and promising wine. Vibrant purple in colour with a quintessentially Margaux nose of violets, plums, cherries and cool cedary spice, this has real depth and poise. This follows on the palate, which is intense in fruit and framed by fine-grained, persistent and ripe tannins. There is no excess here, it is all about harmony, purity and energy. The core of fruit sits in the middle and drives everything forward, refreshed by waves of acidity that give it an almost salty edge. The wood is gentle and lightly sweet, pushing for a little seduction without losing the ethereal nature that makes this wine so good. Very long and refined, it should turn out beautifully in bottle.
Blackberry, dark cherry and crushed stone notes with a medium to full body, chewy tannins and a long finish. Juicy and muscular. Wait and see.
This is luscious and full of wonderfully bright fruits, great concentration, cushion of air underneath, high Cabernet and it comes through in the floral aromatics, clearly a plentiful tannic structure but luscious and layered damson and black cherry. Yes yes yes. 12.10% press wine. 3.62 pH. Tasted twice. 100 years of the Lurtons at Brane. 2034-2044.
The 2025 Rauzan-Ségla is totally seamless in the glass. Dark-toned fruit, mocha, new leather, licorice, menthol and dried herbs infuse the palate with tremendous textural depth. The 2025 is of course very young. The year's natural concentration is its most evident signature at this time, but the rest will surely follow. Polished, supremely elegant tannins support the finish. What a stunner. Tasted two times. 2035 - 2065
