The Producer
The history of Château Rauzan-Ségla
The history of Château Rauzan-Ségla dates back to the 17th century and is deeply rooted in that of the great wines of Margaux. Over the centuries, the estate has established itself as one of the most prestigious properties in the Médoc, until being recognized as a Second Grand Cru Classé in the 1855 Classification. Located in the heart of the Margaux appellation, the château has undergone several periods of transformation before entering a new era following its acquisition by Chanel in 1994. Since then, the property has been engaged in significant restoration and enhancement of its wine heritage, with the ambition of revealing all the finesse and depth of this great Bordeaux terroir.
An exceptional terroir and a precision know-how
Château Rauzan-Ségla benefits from an emblematic terroir of Margaux, shaped by the terraces of Médoc and the proximity of the estuary of the Gironde. Its vineyard rests on a great diversity of soils, where gravel and clay notably mix, offering the vines particularly favorable conditions for the production of great red wines. This geological complexity is at the heart of the estate's work, which practices precise zoning of the plots and adapts the vinifications to each terroir identity. The grapes are thus vinified parcel by parcel to preserve the uniqueness of each lot before a meticulous blending. This quest for precision allows the great wine to express the signature of Margaux: a blend of finesse, freshness, depth, and elegant tannins, notably carried by Cabernet Sauvignon.
Château Rauzan-Ségla today
Today, Château Rauzan-Ségla is among the major references of the Margaux appellation and embodies a demanding and contemporary vision of great Bordeaux wine. The property cultivates a style based on the balance between intensity and delicacy, with wines renowned for their elegance, complexity, and aging potential. The estate also works on its second wine, Ségla, which offers a more accessible and fruity interpretation of this exceptional terroir. Through precision viticulture, tailor-made vinifications, and constant attention to the evolution of the vineyard, Rauzan-Ségla today pursues its ambition: to accurately reveal the nobility and diversity of the Margaux terroirs, in the spirit of a Grand Cru Classé of Médoc.
The Wine
Parcel and intra-parcel vinification, with gravity filling, in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks.
In French oak barrels, medium heat and medium long. Racking at an angle. Fining with egg whites in barrel.
Tasting
The 2009 vintage is a remarkable wine of opulence and mastery. Its color is deep and its nose powerful. Delicate fragrances of violet reveal themselves upon opening, followed by the flavors of ripe fruits. Blackcurrant, blackberry, quince, and licorice are appreciated among many others. The palate is ample, full-bodied, and particularly creamy. It evolves with candied fruits. Long, enveloping tannins provide a velvety texture. They compose a fleshy and intense finish, with indulgent notes of caramel and spices. The tasting reveals a lot of precision in the fruit and in the maturity, without excess.
Scores and Notes
97
Vinous
18/20
La RVF
96
James Suckling
17/20
Jancis Robinson