Winemaker Notes
Looking, smelling and tasting a glass of Rauzan Ségla wine is an invitation to a journey like no other. An adventure that is full of unique and delicious experiences that characterize the fine wines from Bordeaux. This journey of pleasure begins on the eye. The beauty of a color so intense that is impossible to take one’s eyes off of it. A color that draws us in and makes us want to discover its secrets. The pleasure of its luxurious aromas disclosing cigar box notes which combine harmoniously with aromas of ripe fruits. Like a protective cocoon promising the ultimate in epicurean pleasures. The first sip coats the palate seductively with a combination of finesse, elegance and unparalleled charm. The wine's smooth, complex texture will make you want to linger over the tasting experience. To taste a glass of Rauzan-Ségla is to savor its fruity freshness and let yourself be transported by its silky smooth texture, the result of over 3 centuries of winemaking expertise. It is to get lost in the eternal pleasures of tasting a fine Bordeaux, safe in the knowledge that it will reveal all its magnificent power over the years to come.
Blend: 77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, and 4% Vins de Presse
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 1986 Rauzan-Segla is held up as one of the best wines of that decade. Now at 30 years old, it has an initially tightly wound bouquet that demands coaxing from the glass. It eventually offers exquisite aromas of small red cherries, cranberry jus, confit dates and briary, a hint of sandalwood tucked underneath. You would never describe the aromatics as "explosive" but it seems to gain in intensity. The palate is medium-bodied with a slightly savory entry. There is good structure here, but there is a sweet seam of fig and candied orange peel that to be honest, does not quite match the personality of the wine.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Silky, seductive and polished are the words that characterize the best wines from Margaux, the most inland appellation of the Médoc on the Left Bank of Bordeaux.
Margaux’s gravel soils are the thinnest of the Médoc, making them most penetrable by vine roots—some reaching down over 23 feet for water. The best sites are said to be on gentle outcrops, or croupes, where more gravel facilitates good drainage.
The Left Bank of Bordeaux subscribes to an arguably outdated method of classification but it is nonetheless important in regards to history of the area. In 1855 the finest chateaux were deemed on the basis of reputation and trading price—at that time. In 1855, Chateau Margaux achieved first growth status, yet it has been Chateau Palmer (officially third growth from the 1855 classification) that has consistently outperformed others throughout the 20th century.
Chateau Margaux in top vintages is capable of producing red Cabernet Sauvignon based wines described as pure, intense, spell-binding, refined and profound with flavors and aromas of black currant, violets, roses, orange peel, black tea and incense.
Other top producers worthy of noting include Chateau Rauzan-Ségla, Lascombes, Brane-Cantenac, and d’Issan, among others.
The best wines of Margaux combine a deep ruby color with a polished structure, concentration and an unrivaled elegance.