Rauzan Segla 2020 (750ML)

99 DE / 98 WA / 98 JD / 98 WCI / 97 JS / 97 VM / 97 WI / 96 WE / 96 JA / 17.5 JR

#90 James Suckling's Top 100 Wines of France 2023

Perfumed nose, heady and seductive, the aromas shining out of the glass. Full, rich and vibrant tones of blackcurrant and black cherry. Ripe and chewy, the tannins really are present and grippy but have a plushness and a bounce to them, they coat the entire mouth, seriously wide and expansive but are gentle even in their fillingness. A powdery blueberry juiciness with intense liquorice touches walks the line between freshness and power so well. Really a step up in quality, still tight, strong and not exactly charming at this point but there’s no faulting the winemaking here, this is direct, powerful and firm but so long with great acidity. Packed and charged, ripe and rich, yet round and balanced. I adore it.--Georgina Hindle, Decanter

The 2020 Rauzan-Ségla is showing brilliantly in bottle. Wafting from the glass with aromas of cassis and minty blackberries mingled with violets and licorice, it's medium to full-bodied, suave and seamless, with a deep core of vibrant fruit, beautifully refined tannins and a harmonious, integrated profile that exudes elegance. A wine of immense character and refinement, it's the best vintage from this estate in recent times. - William Kelley, Wine Advocate

The 2020 Château Rauzan-Ségla is pure Margaux brilliance, and this beautifully elegant wine embodies the best of the vintage. Revealing a deep ruby/purple hue as well as a great bouquet of blackcurrants, black cherries, lead pencil, sandalwood, smoked tobacco, and hints of incense, it hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, a layered, seamless mouthfeel, integrated acidity, and a great finish. It offers pleasure today (although it closes down with extended air) but deserves 5-7 years of bottle age and will evolve for 30 years or more. This is clearly in the same league as the 2015, 2016, 2018, and 2019. Tasted on multiple occasions with consistent results. - Jeb Dunnuck

The complex perfume stands out with its array of flowers, cinnamon, currants, cherries, cigar box, and touch of tobacco. The wine is full-bodied, deep, sensuous, silky and yes, sexy, finishing with a wealth of expansive fruit, espresso and dark cocoa that holds our focus for over 50 seconds. Drink from 2027-2060.-Jeff Leve, Wine Cellar Insider

A very polished red with blackberry, black olive, walnut, and crushed stone aromas that follow through to a medium to full body with polished, velvety tannins that go on for minutes. Surprisingly open and so attractive. Wonderful length to this. Needs four to five years to open. Best after 2026.. - James Suckling

The 2020 Rauzan-Ségla is a huge, explosive wine. Black cherry, plum, chocolate, licorice, smoke and incense are some of the many notes that infuse the 2020 with tremendous richness. With élevage, the 2020 has grown into a huge, brooding wine endowed with notable presence. There's great purity and class here. The 2020 is a powerful, brooding Rauzan-Ségla for readers who can be patient. Very patient. Tasted two times. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc, the 2020 Rauzan-Segla has a deep garnet-purple color. It charges out of the gate with energetic notes of fresh blackberries, cassis, and black cherries, leading to hints of clove oil, violets, and underbrush. The medium-bodied palate has a plush, fine-grained texture and seamless freshness supporting the classically styled flavors, finishing long and perfumed. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent

This wine has a fine structure, with dense tannins from the Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. It is a full wine, the spicy character mingling with black currant flavors. The wine has an excellent future. Drink from 2027. - Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast

Edge of smoked and salted caramel, along with blackberry, cassis, bilberry, liquourice root, incense, giving depth and character. Elegant, satiny tannins, very much an architecture that makes you stop and appreciate the craftsmanship that has put it all together. Second time tasting this frshly-released vintage in recent weeks, and it's one to savour. 3.74, 60% new oak, harvest September 8 to 29. Nicolas Audbert director, Eric Boissenot consultant. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux