Rauzan Ségla 2024

The 2024 Rauzan-Ségla is magnificent. One of the top wines of the Left Bank, Rauzan-Ségla possesses tremendous textural density and mind-blowing balance. Dark fruit, lavender, spice, licorice and new leather are all dialed up in a potent, layered Margaux that offers stunning harmony and incredible purity. At this stage, Rauzan-Ségla is one of the wines of the vintage in Bordeaux. Elegant yet powerful, the 2024 is simply magnificent. Tasted four times. 2043 - 2054

Deep garnet-purple colored. Strides confidently out of the glass with classic black currants and red currant scents, leading to a core of cedar chest, underbrush, and damp soils, plus a touch of red roses. The medium-bodied palate is vibrant with exquisitely ripe tannins and beautifully knit tension framing the red and black berry layers, finishing long and fragrant. This is a finished blend, completed 2 months ago.63.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, 0.5% Cabernet Franc, aged 18 months in French oak barrels, 50% new. 30 hl/ha, 3.7 pH.

The 2024 Rauzan Ségla, picked between September 23 and October 11, was aged for 18 months in 50% new oak barrels. It has a fuller bouquet than the Deuxième Vin, with pure black fruit, a hint of violet and a splash of India ink—refined rather than powerful. The palate is medium-bodied and tensile, with lighter tannins than the '20 or '22, poised and quite linear in style. A dash of black pepper and graphite emerges towards the liquorice-tinged finish. Clearly, this is a more approachable Rauzan-Ségla that should provide up to 20 years of drinking pleasure. Drink: 2029-2055

A blend of 63.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 0.5% Cabernet Franc, the 2024 Rauzan-Ségla offers up aromas of minty cassis, pencil shavings and cigar wrapper, followed by a medium-bodied, soft and pillowy palate that's supple and open-knit, concluding with a melting, discreetly herbal finish.