CHATEAU RAUZAN SEGLA 2008 - Margaux 2nd Growth Grand Cru Classe - France - Red Wine

Country : France
Region : Bordeaux - Margaux
Type : Red
Year : 2008
Volume : 75 cl

WINEMAKER TASTING NOTES : It is a beautiful wine in this vintage, not nearly as powerful and structured as the 2010, but it has complex notes of sweet red and black fruits, unsmoked cigar tobacco, spice box and a hint of very subtle wood. The complex perfume is followed by a dark ruby/plum-colored wine with beautifully sweet tannins, a silky, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, and a long finish. A touch soft, but persistent, with pretty floral, mulled plum and tobacco notes that glide over light, rounded tannins. The pure finish lets the fruit hang elegantly.

WINE CRITICS : 93 points Wine Enthusiast
Outer quote mark Big, rich, almost velvet in texture, this is a powerful wine. It has spice, black berry fruits, layers of wood and black plum skins. Powerful wine for long-term aging and medium-term accessibility. *Cellar Selection* (RV) Inner quote mark (4/2011)

92 points Decanter
Outer quote mark A cool summer and a beautiful autumn resulted in the grapes being left on the vines for a long time to fully ripen, with picking commencing in October. Packed full of Médoc character, this has cedar, menthol, leather and cigar box notes - a brilliant lesson in classic Bordeaux. It's extremely approachable and drinkable, and is showing some walnut character already, softened around the edges with lovely smoky notes and gourmet touches, and a mouthwatering, minty sign off with juicy lift on the finish. It should stay on this plateau for a long while yet. (JA) Inner quote mark (4/2014)

91 points Jeb Dunnuck
Outer quote mark The 2008 Rauzan-Ségla is a solid vintage and is still relatively youthful, yet it’s certainly drinking nicely. A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Merlot, it has a cooler, black-fruited, menthol, and tobacco-driven bouquet as well as medium to full body, still present tannins, considerable elegance, and outstanding length. Overall it’s a pretty, well-balanced 2008 that’s going to continue evolving for another 15-20 years. Inner quote mark (5/2019)

91 points Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
Outer quote mark Good dark, bright red. Deep, brooding aromas of blueberry, mulberry, tobacco, mint and pepper. Deep and sweet, with ripe mulberry and raspberry fruit nicely supported by a firm mineral underpinning. At once smooth and sappy, offering a captivating balance of sweetness and ripe acidity. Finishes strong and vibrant, with firm tannins supported by the wine's mid-palate fruit. (ST) 91+ Inner quote mark (7/2011)

91 points Vinous
Outer quote mark The 2008 Rauzan-Ségla, a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Merlot, is just beginning to show signs of maturity in the glass. The bouquet has always been a little conservative and foursquare in my opinion, as if the Merlot needs to 'gee up' and impart more opulence and fruité. There is a light earthy scent, and a touch of warm brick infusing the dark berry fruit, but it does not quite 'billow' as you would like a Margaux wine to do. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannin, a fine line of acidity, truffle tinged red berry fruit laced with mocha and leather. This is showing more secondary notes towards the finish, but I would still afford it maybe another year or two in bottle. (NM) Inner quote mark (2/2018)

90 points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Outer quote mark The 2008 Rauzan-Segla (62% Cabernet Sauvignon and 38% Merlot) was made from 45% of the production. It is a beautiful wine in this vintage, not nearly as powerful and structured as the 2010, but it has complex notes of sweet red and black fruits, unsmoked cigar tobacco, spice box and a hint of very subtle wood. The complex perfume is followed by a dark ruby/plum-colored wine with beautifully sweet tannins, a silky, medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, and a long finish. This outstanding Margaux should drink nicely for 15-20 years. 90+ Points (RP) Inner quote mark (5/2011)

ABOUT THE WINERY : The wines here have delighted many well-know figures, most famously Thomas Jefferson who came across this wine during his visit to the vineyards of Bordeaux, placing an order for several cases of it. He thus became a fervent admirer or Rauzan-Segla wines. Some decades later, the 1855 Classification ranked Chateau Rauzan-Segla as a Second Growth.

The current chateau was built in 1903, designed by architect Louis Garros, who drew inspiriation from the original Perigord-style buildings in the the chateau, as well as G. LeBreton who designed the park and green spaces. Then time went by and the chateau gradually fell into a slumber.

Then, CHANEL purchased Chateau Rauzan-Ségla in April 1994 and immediately started a full renovation programme. The vineyard has been drained – a 15-kilometer network is now in place, 2 parcels of Petit Verdot were planted and 3 hectares of vines were grafted over with Merlot. Today, 51 hectares are in production for an average total production of 200 000 bottles – Chateau Rauzan- Ségla and its second wine Ségla. The winery has been adapted and large vats progressively replaced by smaller capacities – matching the parcels' sizes. From the 2004 picking on, grapes will be sorted on two 10-meter long vibrating tables, so that each single berry is checked before entering the vats. Maturation cellars have been completely renovated and a new room built for the bottling-labelling machines – making Chateau Rauzan-Ségla fully independent for the entire production process.

INTERVIEW WITH JAMES SUCKLING & JOHN KOLASA



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