2011 Chateau Rauzan-Segla
By Chateau Rauzan-Segla
2011 Château Rauzan-Ségla from Château Rauzan-Ségla, Margaux, Bordeaux
In the canvas of Bordeaux’s prestigious winemaking tradition, the 2011 Château Rauzan-Ségla from Château Rauzan-Ségla in Margaux is a compelling chapter that speaks to both the resilience and finesse inherent to this renowned estate. This particular vintage emerged from a year that challenged vintners with variable climatic conditions - a test that Château Rauzan-Ségla met with commendable poise.
Character and Complexity: Defining the 2011 Vintage
Where one might expect the hurdles of 2011's growing season to manifest in the bottle, Château Rauzan-Ségla has adeptly transcended them. The wine is an earnest expression of Margaux's terroir, an area revered for producing wines of profound aroma and delicate tannin structure. Reflective of this, the 2011 vintage articulates a sophisticated narrative, woven with a palate that balances ripe blackberries and cassis against an earthy backdrop of tobacco and soft cedar nuances.
While the season’s early heat spikes hastened berry development, it was the diligence in the vineyard that maintained quality. Precipitation in July and September demanded meticulous attention, but the outcome is a testament to skill; this vintage encapsulates the aromatic elegance customary to Margaux but with an admirable structure that forecasts remarkable ageing potential - a relevant detail for those eyeing investment longevity.
A Vintage Worthy of Collection and Consideration
The composition of the 2011 Château Rauzan-Ségla lends itself not just to immediate gratification but promises evolutionary grace over time. Investors will find value in tracing this wine’s trajectory as it matures, flaunting its ability to develop captivating secondary flavours and ever more nuanced mouthfeel as years pass.
For connoisseurs seeking to diversify with a vintage that demonstrates mastery over adversity, the 2011 Château Rauzan-Ségla exemplifies such a choice. It is a selection that reiterates the adaptability and artistry innate to the storied soils of Margaux.
In summation, whether approached as an object of sensory delight or as a strategic addition to one's portfolio, the 2011 Château Rauzan-Ségla makes for an engaging topic amidst discussions of exceptional vintages. Its journey from vinification under trying conditions to its current stature is as intriguing as it is commendable—a narrative well-suited for those who appreciate not only fine wine but also the rich tapestry behind each bottle.
Market price (HKD)
HK$6,620.00
12x75cl
Highest score
92
POP score
57.5
Scores and tasting notes
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. The blend this year is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot, harvested between September 8th and 28th, at an average yield of 28 hectoliters per hectare. It was aged for 18 months in French oak, 70% new. The alcohol is 13.5%, and the pH is 3.33.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 9 April 2020