Château Rauzan-Ségla 2010

Let’s not beat around the mulled wine: Rauzan-Ségla 2010 is quite simply the finest wine from this estate that we have tasted from bottle. We love its floral, elegant character, its pronounced density, the finesse of its tannins, which remain dense and fresh right through to the long finish. We therefore score it even higher than en primeur and forgive it its high price of around 120 euros per bottle.

The second wine, the 2010 Segla, is also delicious. It is relatively similar in blend to the grand vin, with just slightly more Cabernet Sauvignon and less Merlot, but it is deep, dense, with loads of ripe black currant, earthy, foresty fruit along with hints of underbrush and spice box. Medium to full-bodied and fresh, with light tannin, it should drink nicely for 15-20 years. A stunning wine from Rauzan Segla, kudos go to administrator John Kolasa for turning out this profound wine, which should prove to be a timeless classic from the appellation of Margaux.

Flashy style of Margaux, with alluring warm cocoa and black tea aromatics followed by cashmere-textured plum sauce, steeped fig and blackberry confiture notes. The well-integrated structure makes this seem almost accessible now, but the ample length and a smoldering tobacco note make a case for cellaring. Best from 2014 through 2030. 9,666 cases made.

Extremely good quality, a wonderfully accomplished, impressive Margaux where you feel so happy to be tasting it. It delivers accomplished, impressive classified Bordeaux character. Black fruits, liquorice, smoke and pulsating tannins. Just so elegant, so Rauzan, just at the beginning of its drinking window. 60% new oak.

Beautiful clarity of fruit with raspberries and currants on the nose. Roses and other flowers too. It's almost hard to describe, but there's a real purity. Full body, with fabulous balance and depth. It has everything in the right place. Best ever? Try it in 2018.

The 2010 Rauzan-Ségla is simply one of the finest releases in recent years. It has a heavenly bouquet with wild strawberry, subtle floral notes and great precision. The palate is nothing powerful, less flamboyant than the 2010 Palmer, yet endowed with incredible precision and length. All you could really want from a Margaux. Tasted from an ex-château bottle at the BI Wines & Spirits 10-Year On tasting.

Balanced, lifted, full-bodied, complex, and heavily perfumed, this beauty is still just a baby waiting to wake from its slumber. About 7 years are needed, and I’m sure the wine will offer pleasure for decades.

A wine that could easily be mistaken for a First Growth, the 2010 Rauzan-Ségla is an incredibly powerful, full-bodied wine by this estate’s standards, yet it nevertheless holds onto a terrific sense of elegance as well as perfect balance. A huge nose of blackcurrants, smoked earth, tobacco, lead pencil, and spice give way to a concentrated, blockbuster styled Margaux that has thrilling depth of fruit, masses of ripe tannins, and great length and finesse on the finish. This brilliant wine is just now seemingly on the edge of its drink window and offers immense pleasure, yet it has another 30-40 years of life ahead of it. Along with the 2015 and 2016, it’s the greatest wine made at this estate in the past two decades.

18 months in oak, 60% new, barrel and tank selection (50 to 150 hl). Very dark ruby, full at the core. Fine, deeply layered and extremely dark bouquet with perfectly ripe berry aromas and a hint of raisins. Very concentrated, dense and forceful palate with an almost austere depth, framed by a vertical tannin structure, very vintage-typical “Gothic” character; again spiced plum and dark fruit notes, still completely undeveloped—one can easily wait a few more years. With upgrade. 18+/20

Extremely dark purple with lilac and violet highlights. The bouquet is restrained, initially a bit woody with rosewood notes, chestnut aromas, and dark plums. Only on the palate does its greatness become apparent: plenty of flesh, good astringency, and thus evident reserves. A very classic Rauzan-Ségla that somehow recalls its phenomenal 1986—in a more refined form. Tasted three times. In 10 years, a 19/20 score could well be on the cards. Revisit in autumn. For a 2010, it is rather reserved, or simply particularly fine. (18/20). 12: Medium garnet-purple. Delicate, fresh bouquet—blackcurrants, mulberries, and many different fine noble woods, with a hint of cedar in the mix. On the palate, extremely fine; the extract is silky like silk and the balance is lovely. It may not stand out among the louder crus, but those who take their time will recognize this as one of the very best Rauzan-Séglas of the new era.

(60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 37 hl/ha) Fruity, powerful, complex, aromatic, mineral bouquet with assorted berries, tobacco, cedar, currants, red currant. Balanced, elegant, layered, fresh palate with fine, dense fruit, good tannin, elegant structure, powerful, concentrated aromatics, very long, full finish. 18/20 2017 - 2035

This is classy, reserved, unrolling slowly but surely across the palate, with cassis bud, rosemary, espresso and slate. One of the more closed wines in the lineup; it could do with a few more years. John Kolasa director, 50% new oak for ageing, 37hl/ha yield.

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2010 Rauzan-Segla is deep garnet-colored. After a little swirling, a gorgeous perfume of rose oil, star anise, fragrant soil, and kirsch slowly emerges, followed by suggestions of blackcurrant pastilles, tar, and black truffles. The medium-bodied palate is jam-packed with dense black fruit preserves and earthy layers, supported by super-firm, ripe, grainy tannins and amazing tension, finishing with epic length. Stunning!

Great aromatic finesse, very supple despite its strong structure, lovely oak, much better integrated than that of the second wine, very long, racy, a true great Margaux.

Very classic and admirably built, with a chiselled character, very noble tannins, and beautiful purity on the finish.

The 2010 still shows deep color, and the aromas are beginning to open with woody notes and a complex iodized hint. The wine is dense and suave, with a monumental attack, a fairly tannic yet well-coated mid-palate, and a coffee finish. It will go the distance. 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 37% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot.

Superb aromatic intensity with notes of blackcurrant, smoked bacon and graphite. Juicy, delectable attack. There is texture, pedigree and a suave touch. A wine very much inspired by Cabernet. Juicy and intensely fruity on the finish. Persistent finale. A 2010 in great shape that deserves our patience.

Logo on the cork: FS or FB Tasted blind, not decanted. Intense, subtle nose with ripe, creamy fruit. Caressing on the attack, juicy mid-palate, flavorful, the wine unfortunately becomes a touch brisk on the finish, showing slightly dry tannins. Normal length.

One of the top Margaux wines, this is in top form, finely balanced and as elegant as it is powerful. It is darkly structured, dense yet balancing tannins with ripe black plums. It expresses the complexity of the vintage. A wine for serious, long-term aging.