Chateau Rauzan Segla Margaux

The 2015 Rauzan-Segla is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon 33% Merlot 3% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc cropped at 40 hl/ha between 10 September with the young Merlot vines and finishing with the Cabernet Sauvignon which was picked between 22 September and 9 October. It is matured in 65% new oak for around 18 months. It has a very intense almost crystalline bouquet with blackberry briary flint and just a touch of violet petal. There is incredible delineation here and the new wood is seamlessly integrated. The palate is medium-bodied with extremely fine tannin perfectly judged acidity otherworldly purity and a mineralite rarely seen in this Margaux estate. This is a brilliant Rauzan-Segla not necessarily more powerful than previous vintages though enhanced by its precision frisson and energy perhaps longer on the finish. Winemaker Nicolas Audebert has conspired with the benevolent growing season to produce a benchmark wine for the estate. – *96-98/100 – Robert Parker