2018 Ségla, Margaux, Bordeaux
Critics reviews
The 2018 Ségla is every bit as impressive as it was from barrel. Readers will find a second wine that shows all stature of the Grand Vin, but with the volume turned out just a bit. Rich, pliant and wonderfully inviting, the 2018 Ségla has it all. Dark cherry, plum, mocha, spice and licorice all build in the glass. As always, Ségla is offered only after having spent a few years in the cellar. It's a wine to keep an eye on.
Drink 2023 - 2035
Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com (March 2021)
The 2018 Ségla is composed of 54% Cabernet Sauvignon, 44% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot. Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested from September 27 to October 11, Merlot from September 13-27 and Petit Verdot September 28-29. It has 14% alcohol, and aging is anticipated to be 18 months in barriques, 25% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it opens with quite profound notes of baked blueberries, chocolate-covered cherries and mulberries with underlying cassis, violets, espresso and cracked pepper. The palate is medium to full-bodied with loads of rich fruit and lovely peppery sparks, framed by plush tannins and finishing with great length.
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (April 2019)
This is really delicious already with plenty of dark berries, chocolate and hints of wet earth and fresh herbs. Full-bodied, dense and layered. Best second wine from Rauzan-Segla.
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com (April 2019)
Powerful, with shavings of bitter dark chocolate running through it. This has depth and power and as it unrolls it shows grip and complexity. Plenty to recommend with this wine.
Drink 2023 - 2036
Jane Anson, Decanter.com (November 2020)
A terrific, charming second wine, the 2018 Château Rauzan-Segla Segla has plenty of darker currant and cherry fruits as well as leafy herbs and spice, medium-bodied richness, subtle minerality, and a great finish. Drink this high-quality, outstanding second wine over the coming 10-12 years.
Drink 2021 - 2033
Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com (November 2021)
About this WINE
Chateau Rauzan-Segla
Château Rauzan-Ségla and Mouton Rothschild were considered the leading 2emé Cru Classé Bordeaux properties during the 19th century. However, while the fortunes of Mouton prospered in the 20th century, culminating in its elevation to 1er Cru status in 1973, Rauzan-Ségla`s reputation dwindled and a succession of disappointing wines were produced.
In the early 80s the Rauzan-Segla was sold and the renaissance began. The eminent Professor Peynaud was appointed as a consultant and the proportion of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend was increased, as was the proportion of new oak used in the maturation process. In 1986, a brand-new cuverie was built.
A succession of eye-catching wines were produced at Rauzan-Ségla in the mid to late 80s and early 1990s. Rauzan-Segla was bought by Chanel in 1994.
There are now 45 hectares of vineyards at Rauzan-Ségla and the grapes (63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc) are fermented in temperature-controlled, stainless steel tanks. The wine is then matured in barriques (60% new) for 18 months.
Margaux
If Pauillac can be seen as the bastion of ‘traditional’ Red Bordeaux, then Margaux represents its other facet in producing wines that are among Bordeaux’s most sensual and alluring. It is the largest commune in the Médoc, encompassing the communes of Cantenac, Soussans, Arsac and Labaude, in addition to Margaux itself. Located in the centre of the Haut-Médoc, Margaux is the closest of the important communes to the city of Bordeaux.
The soils in Margaux are the lightest and most gravelly of the Médoc, with some also containing a high percentage of sand. Vineyards located in Cantenac and Margaux make up the core of the appelation with the best vineyard sites being located on well-drained slopes, whose lighter soils give Margaux its deft touch and silky perfumes. Further away from the water, there is a greater clay content and the wines are less dramatically perfumed.
Margaux is the most diffuse of all the Médoc appelations with a reputation for scaling the heights with irreproachable wines such as Ch. Margaux and Ch. Palmer, but also plumbing the depths, with too many other châteaux not fulfilling their potential. There has been an upward shift in recent years, but the appellation cannot yet boast the reliability of St Julien. However, the finest Margaux are exquisitely perfumed and models of refinement and subtlety which have few parallels in Bordeaux.
Recommended Châteaux: Ch. Margaux, Ch. Palmer, Ch. Brane-Cantenac, Ch. Rauzan-Ségla , Ch. Dufort-Vivens, Ch. Ferrière, Ch. du Tertre, Ch. Giscours, Ch. d'Angludet.
Cabernet Sauvignon blend
Cabernet Sauvignon lends itself particularly well in blends with Merlot. This is actually the archetypal Bordeaux blend, though in different proportions in the sub-regions and sometimes topped up with Cabernet Franc, Malbec, and Petit Verdot.
In the Médoc and Graves the percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend can range from 95% (Mouton-Rothschild) to as low as 40%. It is particularly suited to the dry, warm, free- draining, gravel-rich soils and is responsible for the redolent cassis characteristics as well as the depth of colour, tannic structure and pronounced acidity of Médoc wines. However 100% Cabernet Sauvignon wines can be slightly hollow-tasting in the middle palate and Merlot with its generous, fleshy fruit flavours acts as a perfect foil by filling in this cavity.
In St-Emilion and Pomerol, the blends are Merlot dominated as Cabernet Sauvignon can struggle to ripen there - when it is included, it adds structure and body to the wine. Sassicaia is the most famous Bordeaux blend in Italy and has spawned many imitations, whereby the blend is now firmly established in the New World and particularly in California and Australia.
When is a wine ready to drink?
We provide drinking windows for all our wines. Alongside the drinking windows there is a bottle icon and a maturity stage. Bear in mind that the best time to drink a wine does also depend on your taste.
Not ready
These wines are very young. Whilst they're likely to have lots of intense flavours, their acidity or tannins may make them feel austere. Although it isn't "wrong" to drink these wines now, you are likely to miss out on a lot of complexity by not waiting for them to mature.
Ready - youthful
These wines are likely to have plenty of fruit flavours still and, for red wines, the tannins may well be quite noticeable. For those who prefer younger, fruitier wines, or if serving alongside a robust meal, these will be very enjoyable. If you choose to hold onto these wines, the fruit flavours will evolve into more savoury complexity.
Ready - at best
These wines are likely to have a beautiful balance of fruit, spice and savoury flavours. The acidity and tannins will have softened somewhat, and the wines will show plenty of complexity. For many, this is seen as the ideal time to drink and enjoy these wines. If you choose to hold onto these wines, they will become more savoury but not necessarily more complex.
Ready - mature
These wines are likely to have plenty of complexity, but the fruit flavours will have been almost completely replaced by savoury and spice notes. These wines may have a beautiful texture at this stage of maturity. There is lots to enjoy when drinking wines at this stage. Most of these wines will hold in this window for a few years, though at the very end of this drinking window, wines start to lose complexity and decline.
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Description
The Ségla is the second wine from the excellent Château Rauzan-Ségla. This 2018 Margaux is showing beautiful aromas of black fruits and herbs, alongside spicy tobacco and an enticing, leafy note. The palate is dense and silky, displaying wonderful flavours of black cherry, mint and spice. Although this is currently a little tightly wound, an hour or two in a decanter will coax out excellent aromas and flavours. This is a wine to drink with lamb or roasted herby mushrooms.
Berry Bros. & Rudd
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