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Goedhuis, April 2023, Score: 96-98
Nicolas Audebert, the Chanel estates’ wine director, has not missed a beat in this vintage. This Rauzan Segla expresses the warmth of the vintage whilst also achieving a terroir identity justifying its Second Growth classification. Deep dark damson colour. Summer pudding, elderberry and creamy bouquet. Rich and rewarding, black fruits, cocoa bean, hints of graphite and tobacco leaf. A firmness of power and weight of fruit, with suppleness and length on the finish.
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Neal Martin, April 2023, Score: 95-97
The 2022 Rauzan-Ségla was picked 2 to 28 September at 30hL/ha and matured for 18 months in 50% new oak. Nicolas Audebert told me that it contains 17% vin de presse which is slightly higher than normal, a combination of 150 separate vinifications. This has a very opulent bouquet with layers of black cherries, créme de cassis and violets. Perhaps just a little too decadent? The palate is medium-bodied with fine balance, grainy tannins, very pure and focused with quite a minerally finish. Long in the mouth. It's just missing that knockout blow at the moment, yet it's still a supremely well-crafted Margaux. Drink 2030-2065
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Antonio Galloni, April 2023, Score: 95-97
The 2022 Rauzan-Ségla is a rich, opulent wine that very much reflects the nature of this radiant, dry year. Super-ripe dark plum, cassis, chocolate, gravel, cloves and new leather build as the 2022 shows off its unabashedly opulent personality. Even with all of its intensity, the 2022 retains tons of persistence and energy. It's a fabulous wine in this tricky vintage. Tasted three times. Drink 2032-2062.
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Wine Advocate, April 2023, Score: 96-97
The 2022 Rauzan-Ségla is a beautifully sensual, charming wine, bursting with aromas of cherries, dark berries and plums mingled with hints of violets, sweet loamy soil and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, it's fleshy and enveloping, with an ample core of vibrant fruit, supple tannins and a long, succulent finish. The 2022 is a blend of 72% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Merlot and 2% Petit Verdot; and in 2022, the east-facing sides of the vines, which see the afternoon sun, were picked separately, along with anything that showed signs of stress.
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James Suckling, April 2023, Score: 97-98
The freshness and clarity of the fruit is really something with black currants and cherries. Brilliant. Full-bodied, layered and round with polished tannins. I like the intensity and focus with such precision and gorgeousness. Is this the 2016 plus more?
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Matthew Jukes, April 2023, Score: 19+
Château Rauzan-Ségla (2ème Cru Margaux) 72 Cabernet Sauvignon, 26 Merlot, 2 Petit Verdot 50% new oak for 18 months 14.5% alc 3.7 pH 30 hl/ha With considerable power and concentration, this is a closed wine with a midnight black fruit core and the deepest foundations. It appears to be commandingly oaky, but as it is so well integrated, it is hard to see this carpentry, aside from on the finish, where it brings crisp sappiness and mouthwatering traction. Introverted, grand, layered and exotic, this will be a sleeper, and it is clearly made of stunning raw materials, so do not dive in for at least a decade. Interestingly, they harvested the eastern sides of the vines and the western sides of the vines separately, ensuring that the fruit 16 was all in perfect condition as it entered the winery. This extra level of effort has certainly paid off, as this is my highest-ever scoring vintage of Rauzan-Ségla.
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Jeb Dunnuck, April 2023, Score: 97-99
This château has been firing on all cylinders of late, no doubt due to the talents of technical director Nicolas Audebert, and a wine that's going to flirt with perfection is their 2022 Château Rauzan-Ségla. Powerful notes of black cherries, currants, smoked tobacco, chocolate, and leafy herbs all define the aromatics, and it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a deep, layered, concentrated texture, ripe yet building tannins, and a great finish. This is a legit great wine that's going to rival the 2010, 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2020.
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Jane Anson, April 2023, Score: 97
Supple texture, thoroughly impressive in its depth and grip, blackcurrant, blackberry, crayon, liquorice, mint, slate, fennel, ink, has confidence and character and just so much class. Brings precision to the exuberance of the vintage, barely puts a step wrong, so concentated and yet delivering slate and lift. Excellent. Tasted twice. 50% new barrels, Nicolas Auderbert director, 50% of production in the first wine.