2015 Chateau Rauzan-Segla
By Chateau Rauzan-Segla
2015 Chateau Rauzan-Segla from Chateau Rauzan-Segla, Margaux, Bordeaux
The 2015 Chateau Rauzan-Segla from the illustrious Chateau Rauzan-Segla is a testament to the exceptional terroir of Margaux and an exemplar of the vintage's characteristically generous attributes. This particular year emerged as a star in Bordeaux’s firmament, etching its mark on the complex canvas that is fine wine investment.
Harmonising Climate and Craft
The climactic conditions before the 2015 harvest in Margaux were nothing short of fortuitous, laying the foundation for what some say approaches the zenith of vinicultural prowess in this seasoned terrain. The result was that the 2015 vintage bore wines rich with promise and poise, and the offering from Chateau Rauzan-Segla duly delivers.
A Vintage Character
In this 2015 iteration, the wine unfurls in a symphony of balanced tannins and luscious fruit – hallmarks of an auspicious season. Notes of blackcurrant, violets and subtle cedar intermingle to form a bouquet that speaks of the quintessential Margaux elegance. It's a compendium of sensory delights with just enough sinew from oak to proffer promises of longevity.
Upon tasting, one is met by an opulent texture; thanks be to the velvety Merlot which complements Cabernet Sauvignon's structural backbone. They coalesce into an experience that holds the palate in rapt attention – showing a finesse that will enable it to age with grace over the coming decades. It is without doubt a vintage that embellishes the cellars of judicious collectors and astute investors alike.
A Confluence of Elegance and Astuteness
The incomparable combination of meticulous viticulture and dignified aging potential makes the 2015 Chateau Rauzan-Segla a desirable acquisition for any fine wine portfolio. Margaux’s hallowed soils have produced yet another vintage to admire, embodying a heritage that dates back centuries in one harmonious pour. For enthusiasts seeking to diversify their selections or for prudent investors aiming to cultivate value over time, one could scarcely make a more cultivated choice.
Market price (USD)
$1,108.49
12x75cl
Highest score
98
POP score
50.44
Scores and tasting notes
This is so sexy with superbly polished tannins that gives the wine super length and definition. Compacted and tight. Full body, tight yet flamboyant at the same time. Loving it.
James Suckling - jamessuckling.com
Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2015 Rauzan-Ségla offers up an expressive nose of baked blackberries, kirsch, warm cassis and baked plums with hints of cigar box and tilled soil. Full-bodied, rich and expansive in the mouth, it has layer upon layer of bold red and black fruit preserves with earthy accents and a velvety texture, finishing long and lively. The blend this year is 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, harvested between September 10th and October 9th, at an average yield of 40 hectoliters per hectare. It was aged for 18 months in French oak, 65% new. The alcohol is 14%, and the pH is 3.7.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown - The Wine Advocate, 9 April 2020
The 2015 Rauzan-Segla is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc cropped at 40 hl/ha between 10 September with the young Merlot vines and finishing with the Cabernet Sauvignon, which was picked between 22 September and 9 October. It is matured in 65% new oak for around 18 months. It has a very intense, almost crystalline bouquet with blackberry, briary, flint and just a touch of violet petal. There is incredible delineation here and the new wood is seamlessly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with extremely fine tannin, perfectly judged acidity, otherworldly purity and a mineralité rarely seen in this Margaux estate. This is a brilliant Rauzan-Ségla, not necessarily more powerful than previous vintages, though enhanced by its precision, frisson and energy, perhaps longer on the finish. Winemaker Nicolas Audebert has conspired with the benevolent growing season to produce a benchmark wine for the estate.
Neal Martin - eRobertParker.com, #224, April 2016
Juicy and bright, with lots of energy to the red currant and plum fruit, laced with savory, iron and black tea notes. A velvety edge pulls the finish together. Shows good character, with less reliance on flashy oak.—J.M.
Wine Spectator - James Molesworth - winespectator.com
A delicious wine from this good value château, which has touched new peaks in recent vintages. Scented, balanced and very pure, with plum and cassis fruit, stylish oak and the tannic structure to age further in bottle. One of the wines of the appellation. Drink: 2022-32
Tim Atkin - timatkin.com
Very dark. This is turbo Margaux! By which I don’t mean that it's forced but it has extraordinary concentration and impact. Very much set for the long term. Juicy and chock full of fruit that almost disguises the tannin. Amazing persistence.
Jancis Robinson - jancisrobinson.com