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Rauzan Segla 2003

Margaux, Second Growth

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Tasting Notes

I loved the 2003 Rauzan-Ségla. It’s from a scorching hot vintage, but it has stayed beautifully balanced and has loads to love. Based on 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot, and the rest Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, it offers a complex, resolved bouquet of ripe black fruits, smoke tobacco, fruitcake, and incense. Medium to full-bodied, downright sexy, complex, and nuanced, it’s drinking at point today. It’s not going to get any better, but it will certainly hold nicely for another 8-10 years.

Score: 93

Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com Maturity: 2019-2027 01 May 2019

Forty-seven percent of the crop made it into the savory, complex, fully mature 2003 Rauzan Segla. Notes of coffee bean, white chocolate, forest floor, red and black currants and tobacco leaf are present in this dark plum/garnet-colored 2003. The final blend was 53.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 40% Merlot and the rest tiny dollops of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. There is a slight herbal tinge to the wine, but it is fresh, complex aromatically, and exhibits the vintage’s opulence. Enjoy it over the next 5-8 years.

Score: 91

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2014-2022 01 August 2014

I have a nagging feeling that this wine could be a lot better than it is, especially given the talent at the chateau. With an unusually high percentage of Merlot in the blend (40%, along with 53.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the rest Petit Verdot), the 2003 exhibits an herbal, peppery, spicy nose, a dark plum/ruby color, good ripeness on the attack, a constrained, narrow mid-palate, and a moderately tannic finish. Additional stuffing, substance, and flesh would be beneficial. Give it 2-3 years of cellaring, and drink it over the following 12-15. Manager John Kolasa told me the alcohol was an extremely high 13%, and that the 2005 is even higher at 13.5%.

Score: 88

Robert Parker, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com Maturity: 2008-2023 01 April 2006

Tasted blind at Farr Vintner’s Left Bank tasting. This has a pleasant nose, quite natural, with blackberry, wild hedgerow, cedar and earth. The palate is finely balanced with a supple entry, good acidity, plump earthy red-berried fruit, cohesive and refined towards the finish. I was not surprised when the identity of this wine was revealed. Tasted October 2010.

Score: 92

Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, RobertParker.com 01 March 2011

Rather luscious nose. Smooth and Margaux-like. Sweet but mild. Well done in minor key. No great faults - though a little green on the end.

Score: 16

Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com Maturity: 2010-2016 13 October 2010

Good red with a hint of development at the rim. Mellow aromas of sandalwood, mocha, coffee, smoked meat and nutty oak. Fat, round and sweet, with a silky texture but good rather than outstanding depth of flavor. Finishes with substantial dusty tannins and good length.

Score: 89

Stephen Tanzer, International Wine Cellar 01 May 2006

Fascinating aromas of berry, currant and toasted oak. Crushed dark fruits. Full-bodied and chewy with plenty of berry and vanilla flavors. Slowly builds on the palate, with big velvety tannins and a long finish. This is tight and tannic needing plenty of bottle age. Best after 2011. 7,915 cases made.

Score: 92

James Suckling, Wine Spectator Maturity: 2011+ 31 March 2006