Château Rauzan-Ségla 2015

Takes a very fresh approach, with an open-knit feel to the mulled raspberry and red currant fruit. Pretty lilac, incense and singed apple wood notes underscore the fruit, while silky but persistent tannins carry the finish. Shows latent depth and precise balance, so don't let this early charm fool you, as this should unfurl beautifully in the cellar. Best from 2022 through 2040. 10,000 cases made.

Structure is the watchword for this wine. With dark tannins and concentration, it obviously has long-term potential. At the same time, the black-currant fruits are ripe and full bodied, giving rich contrast to the tannins. These two elements will allow this wine to age. It will be ready to drink from 2025.

Dating back to 1661, Rauzan-Segla had under-performed for many years prior to its purchase in 1994 by Chanel owners, the Wertheimer family. With significant investment, the estate has regained its former glory. Highly successful in 2015, this is refined, elegant and precise with a bright red/black fruit character and lovely freshness on the Palate. It will benefit from a few more years in bottle but undoubtedly has star-quality.

Extremely aromatic with dried flowers, perfumed and sandalwood and blackcurrants. Full body, ultra-fine tannins, a gorgeous core of ripe fruit and blackcurrants and blueberries. Racy and very long. So impressive. This needs four or five years to come around but already so fine.

The 2015 Rauzan-Ségla is every bit as impressive as it was from barrel. Rich, sumptuous and super-intense, the 2015 envelops the palate. Super-ripe dark cherry, plum, licorice, leather, tobacco and menthol are all given an extra kick of richness in a dramatic, exceptionally beautiful Rauzan-Ségla that clearly swings for the fences. Although quite concentrated and sumptuous, the 2015 also retains considerable nuance. Readers lucky enough to own the 2015 can look forward to several decades of fine drinking. This is terrific effort from estate manager Nicolas Audebert, who wasted no time in sending a strong message about his ambitions in his first full-time vintage at Rauzan-Ségla. The 2015 is 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc.

The intense floral display in the nose is on fire and is made even better with the addition of sweet currants, smoke, blackberries, and earth. As good as the perfume is, it is on the Palate, with its layers of silky, energetic, rich, elegant red and black fruits that is the show stopper here. Still young, but in a nice place to pop a cork if you prefer wines more on the fruit, than on the secondary side. Drink from 2023-2055.

Deep ruby with purple reflections and subtle rim brightening. Hints of prune, ripe cherries and some nougat. Very sweet texture, fresh acidity and a chocolate touch on the finish, freshly structured, lingers with honey on the finish, an individualistic style.

I underrated the 2015 Rauzan-Ségla on release. It's a big, rich, incredibly sexy wine that's certainly in the same ballpark as the 2016 (and 2018). Full-bodied, ripe, and concentrated, it has a wonderfully expansive, layered texture as well as an incredible sense of balance. Lots of cassis, leafy herbs, flowery incense, and tobacco notes all emerge from this beauty, which offers sweet tannins as well as a huge finish. This is magical stuff that's going to keep for three decades or more.

Deep purple, rich in the middle, pomegranate shimmer at the rim. On the nose, it initially shows spicy and smoky notes, followed by fine roasted and violet notes. On the palate, surprisingly cool and delicate, rich and juicy with a silky texture and seductive Margaux aromatics, remarkably polished and refined, beautifully balanced, wonderful balance between concentration and finesse. Upgrade: Approaching 19/20. 18.5/20

Deep purple, saturated in the middle, pomegranate glints at the rim. Fruity, floral bouquet, multilayered and delicate, showing relatively little fruit pressure. On the palate silky, elegant, displaying appropriate astringency. It is very difficult to assess, other Margaux are simply louder and give more. I retasted it once again at the Union des Grands Crus at du Tertre. There it finally convinced me. 21: Very dark wine red with carmine reflections. Quite dark berry approach, shows a first opening, liquorice, some black currant, presents itself straightforward and hints at an exciting depth. Juicy, drawn-out palate, well-supporting, not yet fully integrated acidity, thus seems quite peppery on the palate. On sipping, one discovers a minimally overripe fruit component and aromas of amarena cherries remain in the finish. A rather round affair with imminent first early enjoyment. But that doesn't mean it can't age for 30 years. (18/20).

Silky, creamy, closed nose, strawberries, raspberry spirit, roasted aromas, dark chocolate, currants, fine herbs, slate. Dense, silky, finely opulent palate with creamy fruit, fine tannin, powerful, sweet aromatics, silky, finely muscular structure, long, creamy finish with sweet retro-aromas. 18/20 2024 - 2045

Liquorice, cassis, so good in its sleek, elegant, finessed confidence. Understated for such a warm year, juicy plum fruit, excellent quality with a still-firm tannic hold, plenty of eucalyptus and peony fragrance. 65% new oak, harvest September 10 to October 9, Nicolas Audebert just arrived from Cheval des Andes in 2014, working with John Kolasa for the first harvest, making this his first full year.

A Blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2015 Rauzan-Segla is deep garnet in colour, with a touch of brick. It comes bounding out of the glass with gregarious notes of kirsch, warm cassis, and redcurrant preserves, soon giving way to an undercurrent of potpourri, Chinese five spice, fragrant soil, and cardamom, with a hint of rose oil. The medium-bodied palate is coated with evolving layers of black and red fruit preserves, with a load of floral and mineral accents and a beautifully plush texture, finishing long and perfumed.

Magnificent floral nose, evolving towards rice powder, a great classic Margaux in the making, already plenty of length.

A wine endowed with sublime refinement, silky finesse, soft texture and very integrated tannins. Subtlety in its purest form.

The colour is a dark garnet with a lovely wild blackberry nose. The wine is dense, elegant, long, refined, with beautiful structure. An immense success, remarkable. In taking over the estate, Nicolas Audebert has pulled off a masterpiece with one of the greatest Rauzan-Ségla ever produced.

Dark, intense colour with slight evolution. Highly aromatic nose, with ripe and mentholated fruit. Palate wonderfully smooth, with full body and supple texture, displaying richness from mid-palate onwards and genuine aromatic power. Long and very good.