Rauzan Ségla 1995

A more lucid hue than the 1996, this has more ripeness and sensuality on the nose. Redcurrants, cherry and bilberry with tangible new oak. With aeration, a hint of fig compote develops. There is certainly good fruit concentration on the full-bodied, vigorous palate, quite sinewy in style with great weight. Powerful and yet still very right. Layers of red-berried fruit, a hint of damson, cedar and pencil lead. Surprisingly masculine, this has great potential, more so than the ensuing vintage. Drink 2012-2035. Tasted September 2007.

This wine was consistnely outstanding from cask, and I suspect it may eventually merit an ever higher score, but I was totally closed when I saw it in november. Unfortunately, it was one of the few wines that I was only able to taste oncce after bottling. Nevertheless, it is a classic vin de garde, with a saturated ruby/purple color, and a tight but promising nose of sweet plum and cassis fruit intertwined with inderbrush, vanillin, and licorice scents. The wine is ripe, medium to full-bodied, and rich, as well as unyielding, ferociously tannic, pure, and layered. The finish is extremely dry, with a brooding angularity and toughness. In spite of this, my instincts suggest the requisite depth is present to balance out the structure. This effort will also require a decade of cellaring.