Chateau Rauzan Segla 2018

JAMES SUCKLING: "Aromas of crushed blackberries and blueberries with dried flowers and bark, following through to a full body with a tight and powerful palate of beautiful fruit and chewy yet polished tannins that are compressed and impressive. Extremely linear and intense. Muscular, in a toned way. Yet it opens in the mouth at you taste it. 60% cabernet sauvignon and 40% merlot. Drink after 2025."

JEB DUNNUCK: "Reminding me of the 2016, the 2018 Château Rauzan-Segla reveals this beautifully fresh, complex bouquet that still has serious richness and depth. Based on 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, raised in 65% new barrels, it offers a dense purple hue to go with gorgeous notes of blackcurrants, spring flowers, cigar wrapper, and sandalwood. A quintessential Margaux with its spicy, complex, floral character, it's full-bodied and has a supple, elegant texture, no hard edges, a solid spine of acidity, and a great, great finish. This is a brilliant, heavenly 2018 to enjoy over the coming 30 years or more."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Einladende, mit Rosen floral unterlegte schwarze Waldbeerfrucht, Nuancen von Cassis, Lakritze und Edelholz, verführerisches Bukett. Saftig, komplex, reife Herzkirschfrucht, angenehme Extraktsüße, seidige und zugleich feste Tannine, eleganter Körper, feinwürzig im Abgang, besitzt große Länge, salziger Touch, wirkt trotz aller Kraft leichtfüßig, großes Zukunftspotenzial. Ein Star des Jahrgangs."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "The 2018 Rauzan-Ségla is composed of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot. The wine has 14% alcohol, and it was aged for around 18 months in barriques, 65% new. Deep garnet-purple colored, it comes galloping out of the glass with powerful, energetic scents of crushed black cherries, blackcurrant cordial and mulberries, plus suggestions of violets, star anise, chocolate mint and crushed rocks with a touch of tobacco leaf. The medium to full-bodied palate is jam-packed with taut, muscular black fruit layers, supported by firm, ripe, grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing with fantastic length and loads of earthy sparks. This is a thoroughbred Margaux, for sure, possessing amazing power in a very sleek, sophisticated package. Give it 5-7 years in bottle to unlock all those earth, floral and mineral nuances and drink it over the next 40 years or more. An incredible achievement that adeptly sidesteps the potentially overwhelming stamps of this extreme vintage. Bravo to Technical Director Nicolas Audebert and the team at Rauzan-Ségla!"

WEINWISSER: "Dichtes Purpurrot. Verführerisches Bouquet mit einem Korb von schwarzen Johannisbeeren, dahinter Brasiltabak, dunkle Edelhölzer, Schokopastillen und Alpenheidelbeeren. Am sublimen Gaumen mit butterweicher Textur und ungeheurer Finesse und faszinierender Dynamik ausgestattet, stützendes kakaoartiges Tannin, ein perfekt modellierter Körper und alles in einzigartiger Balance. Im katapultartigen nicht enden wollenden Finale Wildkirsche, Palisander und dunkle Graphitnoten. Mit diesem Jahrgang erreicht Direktor Nicolas Audebert für mich ein neues Qualitätslevel – wird noch zulegen!"

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "A contender for the finest vintage of Rauzan Segla ever produced, the wine hits all the right notes starting with its complex perfume which is already showing off its lilacs, violets, tobacco leaf, forest floor, espresso and array of red and black fruits. On the palate, the wine really shines due to its depth of flavor, power, concentration, sensuous, elegant textures and its silk and velvet wrapped finish clocking in at 60 seconds, or more. Give it ten years or just a bit longer and this beauty will shine for 2-3 decades after that. The wine blends 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot 14% ABV."

DECANTER: DECANTER: I very much enjoyed this en primeur and I am happy to see it living up to billing. There is real nuance here, with a ton of great fruit - layers of cassis, bilberry, charcoal and saffron spice. This really stands out for me as having balance, complexity and the potential to grow. These were tasted blind and I genuinely have to say congratulations to Nicolas Audebert and his team for calling it right in a year in which handling oak over ageing has proved difficult in many cases. 3.8pH. 2% Cabernet Franc completes the blend."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "A blend of 56% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, the 2018 Rauzan-Segla is deep garnet-purple in color. It slowly emerges from the glass with evocative notes of baked blackberries and blackcurrant cordial, plus waves of blueberry pie, sandalwood, rose bud tea, and licorice. The medium to full-bodied palate is plush and juicy, with seamless freshness and a long, spicy finish."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Smudgy rim. High toned. A little more moderate than some top 2018s. Correct but quite low key. No shortage of tannin; a slight shortage of drama – which may be no bad thing? Some slight green notes but the weight of wine makes up for them."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "Warm-hearted and rich with black-plum and dark-chocolate flavors, this wine comes from one of the properties owned by the Chanel luxury group. The dense tannins and generous fruits are typical of wines from this top estate. Drink from 2027. "

WINE SPECTATOR: "Concentrated, with a deep well of cassis and dark cherry preserve, but it maintains the grace and perfume typical of Margaux, flowing with silky charm as lilac, red tea, mineral and sanguine details fill in gently behind the fruit. Long and very suave finish sparkles with a savory note. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2025 through 2040."