Rauzan Ségla 2009

Grilled sandalwood and spice set against elegant and cool blue and black fruit, giving a lovely contrast in terms of flavours and textures, and an excellent reflection of a vintage that keeps getting better and better. This feels balanced and finessed, and full of Rauzan-Ségla signature. 50% new oak, 41hl/h yield, harvest September 22 to October 11. John Kolasa director.

Very dark, shiny crimson. Composed, dense, fresh nose is intriguing and not immediately obviously 2009. Direct aroma – still quite youthful – much more youthful than most of these 2009s. Ripe tannins in evidence.Drink 2019-2036

The nose is power packed, sweet cassis and blackberry vying with black cherry. Dark chocolate on the mid palate enriches, the fleshy black fruits balanced by hints of red cherry. The tannins are in evidence but rounded and supple allowing the sweet fruit to flesh out the finish. Drink 2020-2040.

Benefiting from the inclusion of 11% press wine (albeit in a year when many people found they had more than enough structure without it), this provides further proof of on-going improvements at the château. This is richly oaked, but has the stuffing (even for a Margaux) to cope. Plums, liquorice and sweet tannins are the hallmarks of this fruit-laden wine. 10+ years

Fine dense red, beautifully poised, naturally concentrated wild roses Margaux nose, superb fragrance that leads to a finely polished palate with great depth and purity, a great vineyard expression, power and finesse all in balance, very good indeed. Drink 2015-35.

Deep, spicy and earthy, but with plenty of cabernet sauvignon cassis aroma and solid tannins giving it a serious structure. It's not the most polished Médoc of the vintage, but there's plenty of concentration and energy driving the long firm finish. Give it more time. Try after 2021. (Horizontal Tasting, London, 2019)

Composed of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon and 42% Merlot, this large estate appears to have produced their greatest wine since the 1986. The alcohols came in at 13.9%, and the wine reveals extraordinary density, power, and richness as well as explosive fruit, and terrific acidity, intensity, and power. Yet it tastes like a crisp, delicate Margaux. Yields were 40 hectoliters per hectare. This outstanding 2009 should age nicely for 35-40+ years. (Tasted two times.) Drink 2010-2050.

Served blind at the Southwold 2009 tasting. The Rauzan-Segla '09 has a ripe, vivacious, floral bouquet with good fruit intensity: macerated dark cherries, cassis and a touch of bay leaf. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grip. This displays very good balance and good weight in the mouth, moving towards and slightly peppery, Saint Julien style finish. Tasted January 2013.

Tasted at the chateau and UGC. A blend of 58% Cabernet Sauvignon and 42% Merlot, with 10% vin de presse. The Merlot picked from 22nd to 25th September then 28th September until 1st October. The Cabernet picked 3rd October and from 5th until 11th October (no Cabernet Franc and the Petit Verdot, though ripe, just did not blend well), cropped at 41hl/ha. The nose is well defined, very classic in style with blackberry, black olive, graphite and an intriguing note of woodbines. This is a magnificent Rauzan-Segla, easily the best I have tasted at en primeur. Firstly, it is much more harmonious than usual at this nascent stage, the acidity level is just about perfect, there is a vibrancy that is really enthralling and the poise on the finish ranks alongside that of Chateau Margaux, tasted just before. The finish is very strong, slightly creamy in texture, but also superbly defined and with superb length. Very natural and refine, yet powerful. This may be the best Rauzan Segla that John Kolasa has made. Tasted March 2010

From Robert Parker's Hong Kong Tasting, 8th Nov 2011:Gorgeous nose of raspberries and blueberries. Hints of chocolate and oak. Full bodied, but compacted and very racy. Lovely fruit with milk chocolate, but the texture of tannins is so beautiful. This is the best Rauzan ever made - except perhaps the great pre-phylloxera bottles of the 1800s. Try in 2019

Shows a lovely concentration of currant and blackberry. Hints of vanilla follow through to a full body, with layers of ripe fruit and fine, fruit-coated tannins. I love the ripe and pretty fruit to this. Very fruit-forward. The château cut back on the new wood, and went for a fruitier style. I like thatShows a lovely concentration of currant and blackberry. Hints of vanilla follow through to a full body, with layers of ripe fruit and fine, fruit-coated tannins. I love the ripe and pretty fruit to this. Very fruit-forward. The château cut back on the new wood, and went for a fruitier style. I like that.

Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2009 Chateau Rauzan-Segla has a very fruity warm blackcurrant and blackberry preserve nose over hints of lilacs, cedar, cloves and cinnamon stick. Full bodied, rich and seductively fruited in the mouth, it has a solid foundation to support with a high level of velvety tannins and refreshing acid, finishing long.

Dark crimson. Light and fragrant. Thick on the palate, almost soupy! Should give lots of pleasure - does not need food. One to drink at the bar... Lots of care in tannin management, I would have thought. A wine with real intensity. Date tasted 31st March 2010. Drink 2016-2026.