Shay A

9.2

Monthly WTF wine night with a theme of “something to impress”. As always, wines were tasted blind.

When this was revealed, I was shocked at how open for business this is right now. I guessed young Left Bank Bordeaux. It was juicy and ripe without being overblown. Very red and black fruit dominant, with a touch of herbs down the middle. Zero leather. Black tea, underripe black cherry and cassis on the palate. Thanks, @Will Adams . — 7 days ago

with Benjamin, Ryan and 3 others

Paul Jakubowski

9.0

45+ minute decant. Dark purple color. Mild nose with stone and metallic elements. Wine lacks fruit and is dominated by graphite and pencil shavings. Also lacks French terroir. I used to really like this, but this wine was pretty average if not slightly below that. — 3 days ago

with Brooke

Rick Baumgarten

9.3

From Magnum. Surprised this was so good. Lascombe was have some issues back then, but this certainly matured well. Smokey and earthy with some forest floor, but fruit still present. — 4 days ago

Kirk F

8.9

Super tight and tannic first 60 minutes then the fruit started to shine through. Seems a solid buy and very high quality juice with patience. Still a baby. — 13 days ago

Scott Soren

9.4

I’m a HUGE fan here. This wine impressed me every time. I’ve had the 2000 and 2012, and now the 2015. I opened the 15 by mistake, but it delivered. I let it sit in decanter for an hour, and POW a ripe Smokey hem. Coffee and blackberries on the pallet. Nice tannic structure with some good acidity. You can easily see how this can evoke for decades. — 5 days ago

Jason Brater

9.2

Very tight at PNP. Opened slowly but after 90-120 mins eventually showed dark red cherries, currants, a touch of cloves and lots of black pepper. Nice does of a spicy tannins still left. Drinking really nicely. — 2 days ago

with Heather

Andrew Cullimore

9.1

Medium wide ruby rim. Quite elegant and sophisticated on the nose black fruits, mineral , cassis , quite cool fruits , not green but fresh. A spicy , toasty note also . On the palate there is more of the spicy , cool blackcurrant and cassis, nice racy acidity , and a round mid palate. Fine tannins , nice judged weight. A slightly toasty finish, the length is commendable . Elegantly poised , a successful wine for the vintage and this Chateau . Needs a bit of time in decanter or the glass really as it improved with a bit of air. I would drink this over the next 5 years or so, though there is no need to wait to pull a cork. — 17 days ago

with Josy

Tom Garland

9.2

Double decant (lots of fine sediment). Taking the time machine back to 1990! Still a glorious dark red with some slight bricking on the edge. On the nose: red fruit, earthy, plum, and slight barn yard funk (which I luv). Taste: red fruit, plum, smokey, floral, currants, sweet still there tannins...low acidity and medium finish....took a chance buying a few bottles and drinking really well! Glad I did. — 9 days ago

with Brenda

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

I have four of these and thought I would do my 10 years in bottle check in. I will tell you this wine has the makings of something special but, it is far from ready. Its showing some Margaux beauty & style but, it needs at least another 7-10 years before I’d open another. The wine has not softened and integrated enough at this stage.

The nose reveals ripe, baked and candied fruits of, dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries & plum. Big vanilla, clove, cinnamon stick and nutmeg, sweet tarriness, anise, dark, rich turned earth, dry stones, dark berry cola, dry herbs, dry stem, tobacco, graphite, cedar with fresh, dark, red, blue, purple perfumed florals.

The body is big, full and rich. The tannins are dark, round but, meaty and sticky. The structure and tension are still huge. The length is really good but, the balance is still earth dominate. Ripe, baked and candied fruits of, dark currants, blackberries, black raspberries, dark cherries, strawberries & plum. Big vanilla, clove, cinnamon stick and nutmeg, sweet tarriness, dark spice with some heat, dark chocolate, mocha powder, used expresso grounds, anise, dark, rich turned earth, dry stones, dry clay, gritty volcanic minerals, leathery, dark berry cola, dry herbs, dry stem, tobacco, graphite, cedar with fresh, dark, red, blue, purple perfumed florals. The acidity is round and beautiful. The finish still needs time but is nice and persists minutes.

92 now with room for 2-3 additional points in 10 plus years.

If you are the type to long cellar your wines, buy the hell out of the 2018 Rauzan-Segla.

Photos of; Chateau Rauzan-Segla, harvested berries, Nicolas Aude-Bert, Chief Winemaker and their barrel room.
— 17 days ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Classic older Margaux that showed bright red cherry, floral spice, leather & tobacco notes with good balance, acidity & soft tannins. — 8 days ago