Description
Product Description: Margaux elegance with immediacy and charm. Segla 2017 is the second wine of Chateau Rauzan-Segla, a Margaux estate long revered for its finesse and balance. Crafted from the same hallowed soils and with the same care as the Grand Vin, Segla offers a more accessible expression of the chateau’s terroir—suited to earlier drinking, without sacrificing complexity. The 2017 vintage was shaped by a cooler, more classical growing season, resulting in a wine of freshness, poise, and refined structure. This release blends Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc, aged 18 months in French oak (20% new). Expect lifted aromatics of red plum, graphite, and dried rose, with a silky palate framed by fine-grained tannins and an undercurrent of earthy depth. It’s a Margaux that wears its pedigree lightly, offering immediate satisfaction with the ability to age over the mid-term. Ideal alongside duck, mushroom dishes or simply roasted meats, this is a polished Bordeaux with both charm and substance. Maker The first vines were planted on the property in 1661, but the official birthdate of Chateau Rauzan-Segla is 1763, when it split from the neighbouring Rauzan-Gassies. The estate was gradually partitioned through successive generations of the Rauzan family, but its reputation grew, and come its classification in 1855, it shared the Deuxieme Grand Cru Classe stage with the likes of Chateau Mouton Rothschild (which was promoted 118 years later). Its late 19th century wines have become legendary. However, any subsequent success was met with obstacles – a decline in area under vine, obsolete cellar equipment and a proprietor who prioritised quantity over quality, to name but a few – and soon Rauzan Segla was overtaken by other second growth chateaux. Expansion of the vineyard and modernisation of equipment didn’t occur until the estate was acquired by negociant Echenhauer. Under his ownership, a renovation program was initiated, which involved replacing old, unproductive vines and installing modern stainless steel tanks. Subsequent owners have continued improvements, helping to consolidate the Grand Vin as a true super-second, and in 1994 the property was taken over by the Alain and Gerard Wertheimers, grandsons of Chanel founder Pierre Wertheimer, giving the estate an injection of luxury. The Vineyard Rauzan-Segla’s 70 hectares of vineyards are planted with the four Bordeaux grape varieties. They cover the array of geologies and soils found in the Margaux appellation and proudly reflect this diversity. Chateau Rauzan-Segla’s grand vin is crafted with meticulous care and its grapes sourced from the main vineyards where the finest and, in particular, the old Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines grow in perfectly worked soils. When the Cabernet Franc and the Petit Verdot are included in the blend, they add yet another layer of complexity to the wine. The use of small vats enables Rauzan-Segla to create a number of batches corresponding to the increasingly carefully-demarcated plots. Tasting Notes NOSE – Floral and precise Redcurrant, violet, cedar and dusty earth. PALATE – Silken and savoury Supple dark fruit and graphite with hints of tobacco and spice. FINISH – Elegant and dry Refined tannins and mineral persistence linger on a clean finish. Finer Details: Style – Red Wine Varietal – Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc Country – France Region – Bordeaux (Margaux) Vintage – 2017 Bottle Size – 750ml ABV – 13.5%
