CHATEAU RAUZAN-SEGLA 2eme Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2021 Bottle

Description

The 2021 Rauzan-Ségla stands out with a striking 97 points from Vinous, revealing a brooding mix of black cherry, plum, graphite, and new leather, reflecting the classic Margaux style. Decanter rates it 96 points, highlighting its aromatic intensity filled with perfumed fruits, fine tannins, and vibrant acidity, resulting in a polished and refined finish. James Suckling offers a score of 95 points and describes the wine as medium to full-bodied, with blackberry and black cherry flavors, complemented by fresh, polished tannins and a crisp, solid finish. This wine has great aging potential and a drinking window from 2026 to 2051.

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Château Rauzan-Ségla is a prominent wine estate located in the Margaux appellation of Bordeaux, classified as a 2ème Grand Cru Classé. Established in the mid-17th century, this estate spans approximately 57 hectares, predominantly planted with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Known for its elegance and finesse, Château Rauzan-Ségla produces wines that showcase a beautiful balance of ripe fruit flavours, floral notes, and well-integrated tannins. The terroir, characterised by gravelly soils, plays a crucial role in the wine's distinctive character. The estate has undergone significant improvements in viticulture and winemaking techniques, resulting in consistently high-quality wines that receive praise from critics. Château Rauzan-Ségla is celebrated for its ability to age gracefully, making it a favourite among collectors and enthusiasts of fine Bordeaux.

VINOUS 97 points
Drinking Window 2031 - 2051
From: 2021 Bordeaux: L’Enfant Terrible (Feb 2024)
The 2021 Rauzan-Ségla is impressive. Dark, somber and brooding, the 2021 offers up a heady concoction of black cherry, plum, graphite, new leather, scorched earth, game and tar, all amplified in a dramatic, super-classic Margaux. I would not dream of touching a bottle anytime soon. I loved this en primeur, and I love it just as much today. Élevage made all the difference here. Tasted three times. - By Antonio Galloni on December 2023

DECANTER 96 points
A showstopper of a wine for me in 2021. Wonderful aromatic intensity on the nose filled with perfumed fruits, chocolate and wild flowers. Gorgeous clarity and precision, the tannins are fine and powdery supporting the vibrant and energetic purple and black fruit; zingy blackcurrant, strawberry, cherry and plum with an overall creamy chalky texture and grip. Elegant and glamorous - so much styling on show, it feels polished and pristine with... just great acidity and liveliness. Tasted twice and both times I loved it. Pure and precise with everything you want from a 2021. Ageing 18 months, 60% new barrels.
Drinking Window 2026 - 2049.

JAMES SUCKLING 95 points
Black berry, black cherry and sandalwood aromas and flavors. Medium to full body, with chewy tannins that are polished and fresh. Linear and racy at the end. A crisp and solid young Bordeaux. Give this three or four years to come around. Best after 2027.

THE WINE ADVOCATE (93-95) points
Reviewed by: William Kelley
Representing around 44% of the estate's production (more or less as usual), the 2021 Rauzan-Ségla unwinds in the glass with aromas of minty cassis, blackberries, loamy soil, dark chocolate and warm spices. Medium to full-bodied, deep and impressively concentrated, it's layered and seamless, with a sweet core of fruit, powdery tannins, lively acids and an impressively penetrating finish. The Rauzan team opted to ferment Merlot rather cooler than normal this year to moderate extraction. Tasted six times.
Published: Apr 29, 2022

DECANTER 93 points
Tasted by: Georgina Hindle
(at Bordeaux, 01 Apr 2022)
Part of Best Margaux 2021 wines tasted en primeur
Drinking Window: 2026 - 2033
Bramble tones on the nose, slightly stalky with creamy perfumed blackcurrants. Super sour, the acidity is high straight away - really blasting the mouth with such a hit of mouthwatering acidity which then settles and brings a refreshing nuance and minty aspect that fills the mouth. The Cabernet really showing its muscle but still so smooth and refined. Feels very classy with such aeration in the mouth. You get a sharp acidity, freshness and structure all wrapped up in a silky smooth blanket. I love the sweet red cherry and strawberry fruit from the Merlot, it’s striking, but well worked, well balanced with structured tannins. It’s crisp and vibrant and extremely drinkable. 3.37pH. Ageing 16-18 months, 30% new oak barrels.

JANCIS ROBINSON 17.5 points
Tasted blind. Perfumed in a nice Margaux way. Polished and assured. Clean and both sweet and a little saline. I’d happily drink this tonight. Beautifully balanced. Long. (JR)