CHATEAU RAUZAN-SEGLA 2eme Grand Cru Classe, Margaux 2023 Bottle

Description

IN BRIEF
Château Rauzan-Ségla 2023 opens with poised Margaux perfume: blackcurrant, Morello cherry and ripe raspberry set against pressed violet, rose petal, cedar and graphite. Gentle aeration adds crushed bay, leafy herbs and tobacco leaf. Medium–full-bodied, it has a silky start, bright acidity and fine, supportive tannins that shape without weight. Core fruit is pure black fruit and cherry, edged by black olive and a discreet liquorice thread; the mid-palate unveils cinnamon spice, dark chocolate and toasted cedar. A chalky mineral seam and saline thread lift and drive a long, resonant finish. Oak is judicious and integrated. Texture balances elegance and grip; secondary notes of leather and undergrowth add complexity. Drink now with decanting or cellar 12–20 years for rewarding long-term development.

ABOUT THIS WINE
Château Rauzan Ségla 2ème Grand Cru Classé, Margaux 2023 opens with graceful poise, a classic Margaux profile defined by floral lift and polished dark fruit. The bouquet shows blackcurrant, Morello cherry and ripe raspberry, threaded with pressed violet and fresh rose petal, while delicate cedar and graphite provide a savoury counterpoint. With gentle aeration, crushed bay, leafy herbs and a whisper of tobacco leaf emerge, adding complexity and a clear sense of terroir and freshness.

On the palate the 2023 is medium to full bodied, delivering a satin smooth entry, bright natural acidity and finely grained tannins that give structure without weight. Primary fruit is pure and focused, juicy blackcurrant and cherry centre framed by black olive and a discreet licorice note. The mid palate unfurls with layered nuance, showing cinnamon spice, dark chocolate and a toasty cedar influence from careful oak ageing, while a chalky mineral seam adds momentum to the architecture and lifts the finish.

Oak is judicious and well integrated, lending gentle vanilla and spice that accentuate rather than mask the fruit core. Texture is silky yet tensile, the wine balancing elegance and grip as it evolves in the glass, revealing savoury strata of leather, graphite and a faint ironstone note. Secondary elements of dried herb, cedar chest and undergrowth give depth and interest without detracting from the wine’s primary clarity. The finish is long and resonant, returning to black fruit, bittersweet cocoa and a lingering floral echo that invites another sip.

Château Rauzan Ségla combines historical prestige with modern precision, the estate favouring meticulous vineyard work, small parcel selection and careful élevage to preserve aromatic lift and ageing ability. Drink now with decanting to show layered character, or cellar for twelve to twenty years to allow tertiary notes of truffle, forest floor and cigar box to emerge. Serve at 16 to 18°C with roast lamb, duck, venison or mature cheeses to complement its floral and savoury threads. Rauzan Ségla 2023 is refined, poised and built to age, a compelling Margaux of immediate charm and long term promise.

JAMES SUCKLING ***** 97-98 points
17 Apr, 2024 – A Rauzan-Segla with solid tannins that are muscular, well toned and beautiful. Black currants, blueberries and flowers. Chewy finish. One for the cellar. Classic. The cabernet went to the gym. 85% cabernet sauvignon, one of highest percentages ever.

VINOUS 96-98 points
Drinking window: 2033 - 2063
The 2023 Rauzan-Ségla is fabulous. Rich, dense and explosive, the 2023 soars out of the glass with captivating aromatics. Readers will find a vertical, deep Margaux endowed with tremendous character and nuance. All the elements are so well-balanced. Crushed rocks, plum, blood orange, spice and leather are some of the notes that explode into the finish. In 2023, the Grand Vin is distinctly red-fruited and vibrant. Rauzan-Ségla is one of the most memorable wines of the vintage. It was nothing short of stellar on the four occasions I tasted it. - Antonio Galloni. Tasting date: April 2024

DECANTER 96 points
Tasted by: Georgina Hindle (at Bordeaux, 17 Apr 2024) Part of Best Margaux 2023 wines tasted en primeur
Drinking Window: 2029 - 2048
Blue fruits, wax crayon on the nose, some soft floral notes, a little quiet aromatically. Intense and forward, this is bright and focussed, a little more velvety than Segla, this has a verticality but with a deep mid palate that really extends giving more of a feeling of controlled power. Certainly not shouting but this is very polished. Quite a serious take, more dark fruit, less lively crunchy red fruit, A great result with structure and volume. There's a balance between intensity and freshness but all delivered subtly and with class. More Margaux than some others in the vintage, soft tannins give a touch of voluptuousness. Touches of wet stone also linger on the finish. A lot to like here. Feels very Rauzan, very polished, a touch ‘less’ than 2022 of course, but this has great energy and a lot of drinkability. 3.61pH. 60% grand vin production.

THE WINE ADVOCATE (94-96) points
Reviewed by: William Kelley
The 2023 Rauzan-Ségla shows considerable promise, unwinding in the glass with aromas of cherries, dark berries and plums mingled with hints of pencil shavings and violets. Medium to full-bodied, layered and concentrated, it's deep and fleshy, with terrific purity of fruit, supple tannins and a long, resonant finish. This classic in the making is a blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.5% Merlot and 1.5% Petit Verdot.

JANCIS ROBINSON 17.5 points
85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13.5% Merlot and 1.5% Petit Verdot.
Deep, dark and enveloping. Great nose! Has gloss and precision, with some lifted, floral notes. Supple tannins adorn the palate with subtle oak providing additional structure. Could be enjoyed young but there is a lot more to come here. Shows a lovely balance between ripe dark fruit, new oak and classic bordeaux style. Another success from Rauzan-Ségla. (AWH)

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ABOUT CHATEAU RAUZAN-SEGLA
Château Rauzan-Ségla, ranked 2ème Grand Cru Classé in the 1855 classification, is a historic Margaux estate where centuries of tradition meet meticulous modern stewardship to produce wines of finesse and longevity. Situated on the gravelly rises typical of the appellation, the property benefits from excellent drainage and heat retention, conditions that favour Cabernet Sauvignon while allowing Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot to add texture and aromatic nuance. Vineyards are managed parcel by parcel, with careful attention to vine age, rootstock choice and clonal selection, yields are controlled to concentrate flavour, and sustainable practices support long term soil health and vine vigour.

In the cellar, traditional craftsmanship is combined with contemporary precision, grapes undergoing rigorous sorting before fermentation in temperature controlled vats, where maceration and extraction are tailored to each plot to achieve balance between tannin and aromatic intensity. Élevage takes place in French oak, a measured proportion of which is new, providing structural support and subtle spice without obscuring varietal purity. The estate’s restored cellars and investment in modern facilities reflect a commitment to quality that is respectful of the château’s heritage while focused on consistency and refinement.

The Grand Vin of Rauzan-Ségla typically displays Margaux’s hallmark perfume, delicate floral lift and red berry brightness alongside deeper black fruit, mineral clarity and fine, persistent tannins. On the palate the wine combines precision and energy, offering both immediate charm and the capacity to develop complex tertiary notes with patient ageing. Second and reserve cuvées offer earlier approachability while retaining the estate’s stylistic emphasis on balance and elegance. Through sustained investment in vineyard renewal, sorting technology and thoughtful winemaking, Château Rauzan-Ségla continues to assert itself as a benchmark of Margaux, producing wines that marry aromatic sophistication with structural depth and enduring ageing potential.