Château Ségla, 2017
Rauzan Segla has been flying high since Nicolas Audebert took the reins for the 2015 vintage. This great Second Growth is now fulfilling its full potential. This is another fluid, languid example, a polished, refined Margaux with a cashmere texture. As one would expect, this is beautifully fragrant with aromas of Chambord, sandalwood, a delicate Asian spice, potpourri and gravelly cassis. It isn't as curvaceous at the wonderful 2015, it is a more slender style, but there is still an admirable amount of crème de mûre fruit, blackcurrant and plum coulis fruit - the texture is ripe and creamy and is framed by quite luxuriant fruit laced tannins. Another beauty!
critic reviews
A blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2017 Rauzan-Segla is medium to deep garnet in color. It waltzes out, with up-front notes of raspberry preserves, redcurrant jelly, and mulberries, opening out to hints of tobacco leaf, dried Provencal herbs, and mossy tree bark. The delicately crafted, medium-bodied palate is light on its feet and refreshing, featuring wonderfully silky tannins and a mineral lift on the long finish.
A little less concentrated than the vintages on either side, with sculpted black fruits and floral character, red pepper spice, black truffles, grilled damson and smoked earth. Enjoyable, well balanced. Plenty of estate signature, but no need to wait as long as the more exuberant years. 40hl/h yield, 60% new oak, harvest September 12 to October 2. Nicolas Audbert director, Eric Boissenot consultant.
The 2017 Rauzan-Ségla was bottled at the end of May 2019 according to winemaker Nicolas Audebert. It has a broodier nose than expected, perhaps a tad closed after bottling, but there is certainly sufficient blackberry and raspberry fruit, subtle pressed violet, soupçon of shucked oyster shell scents emerging with time. The palate is medium-bodied with supple tannins struck through by a fine bead of acidity. It feels rounded and velvety in texture, quite persistent in the mouth with a caressing finish that perhaps does not quite deliver the complexity or pixelation of a really top growing season. Otherwise, plainly speaking, bloody delicious.