90
WA
Notes:
The dense purple-colored 1996 Rauzan-Segla reveals a Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated nose of cigar box, cassis, floral, and vanillin scents. Long, structured, tannic, and closed, with formidable power and muscle, and potentially outstanding purity and richness, this wine requires 10-12 years of cellaring. If it continues to flesh out and attain better balance between the tannin and fruit, this will be an outstanding effort from this estate. However, potential purchasers should have the discipline to wait a decade or more for it to reach its plateau of maturity. Anticipated maturity: 2007-2027. - Robert Parker 90
- Producer: Château Rauzan-Ségla is one of the historic estates of Margaux and was ranked Deuxième Grand Cru Classé (Second Growth) in the 1855 Classification. Its history reaches back to the 17th century, when Pierre des Mesures de Rauzan assembled vineyard holdings that would eventually give rise to both Rauzan-Ségla and neighboring Rauzan-Gassies. An especially important change came in 1994, when the Wertheimer family, owners of Chanel, purchased the château. John Kolasa was appointed to lead the estate and began an extensive program of improvements in both vineyard and cellar. The 1996 therefore comes from the beginning of this new era. The chai was expanded in 1995, additional smaller fermentation vats were introduced to permit more precise vinification by parcel, and work began on reorganizing and improving the vineyards, including drainage. These investments helped lay the groundwork for Rauzan-Ségla’s resurgence as one of Margaux’s leading classified growths.
- Vineyard: Rauzan-Ségla occupies classic Margaux gravel terroir, where deep gravel deposits provide the drainage and warmth particularly well suited to Cabernet Sauvignon. The estate lies close to the Gironde estuary, whose moderating influence helps create the long, even growing season important to the Médoc. Cabernet Sauvignon forms the structural backbone of the grand vin, with Merlot bringing additional flesh and roundness. 1996 was an especially successful Left Bank vintage, with conditions favoring Cabernet Sauvignon and producing wines notable for freshness, structure and longevity. Rauzan-Ségla captured that character particularly well. Nearly three decades of bottle development have allowed the firm architecture of the vintage to evolve while preserving the finesse and aromatic complexity associated with Margaux.
- Winemaking: The 1996 final blend was 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, a straightforward blend that places Cabernet firmly at the center of the wine. This vintage was produced just as significant changes were taking place at the château. The previous year, the winery had been expanded with a new facility for destemming and crushing, a permanent bottling line, and a larger number of fermentation vats in varying sizes. The number of vats increased to 35, ranging from 40 to 220 hectoliters, allowing individual vineyard parcels to be handled with greater precision. At the same time, vineyard drainage and replanting were underway. The result is a wine that sits at an interesting point in Rauzan-Ségla’s history: produced from a classic Cabernet-driven Médoc vintage while the new ownership was beginning the long-term work that would restore the château’s reputation.
- Technical Details: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot from Margaux AOC, Bordeaux, France. Château Rauzan-Ségla is a Deuxième Grand Cru Classé under the 1855 Classification. Published sources list the alcohol between 12.5% and 13%, so I would leave the exact ABV out of the product listing unless confirmed directly from the bottle. The wine is now approximately 30 years from vintage and firmly in mature Bordeaux territory. The combination of Cabernet Sauvignon, Margaux’s gravel soils and the naturally structured 1996 vintage gave the wine the foundation for extended bottle development. Sotheby’s records the same 60/40 blend and highlights the wine’s finesse and fine-grained Margaux texture.
- Food Pairing: Mature Margaux is best served with dishes that allow its developed aromatics and finer texture to remain prominent. Beef tenderloin with porcini mushrooms, rack of lamb, roast duck or simply prepared venison are excellent choices. Mushrooms are particularly useful with a wine of this age, complementing the savory and earthy notes that emerge with bottle development. Roast chicken with morels or veal with a mushroom sauce would provide lighter alternatives. Aged Comté and other firm, nutty cheeses also work well. Given the wine’s age, stand the bottle upright beforehand and decant carefully for sediment rather than automatically giving it prolonged aeration.
Rauzan-Ségla Margaux 1996
Sale price$170.00
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90
WA
Rauzan-Ségla Margaux 1996
Sale price$170.00