Château Rauzan-Ségla 2024

Deep, cool, noble, red cherries, cassis, violets, liquorice; on the palate focused and full of energy, great tension, dense, compact, yet without heaviness, silky tannins give the crunchy fruit the necessary support, excellent balance of all elements; a finish of very good length. Once again this year, it ranks among the best of its appellation.

Cherry stone on the nose, rose, violet, strawberry and red cherry. Chewy and well textured, filling but gentle, the tannins are exceptional and the freshness is so well balanced with the fruit. So sophisticated, confident, smooth and utterly compelling. I love it, round, soft with lifted acidity that gives the tang with some liquorice on the finish. Energy and focus with real succulence. Still not a big wine, but this has plenty of style and refinement and a feeling of happiness about it. 0.5% Cabernet Franc completes the blend. Ageing 50% new barrels for 18 months. 55% production. 3.7pH.

With a good depth of color for the vintage, the initial aromatic profile serves up violets, rose petals, currants, black cherries, licorice, and an array of spices. On the palate, the fruits are sweet, supple, and aromatic, with vibrance and lift, allowing for length and some expansion, leaving you with bright, crunchy black cherries and peppery mint notes that carry through. The wine blends 63.5% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, and 0.5% Cabernet Franc. 12% press wine. 13% ABV, 3.7 pH, yields were 30 hectoliters per hectare. The harvest took place September 23 - October 11. Drink from 2029-2048. 94-96 pts

Deep and warm, the nose opens with smoky notes (charcoal, barbecue embers) before unfolding into a more floral register: heirloom rose, sweet pea, lavender, fresh rosemary. The palate is lace‑fine, all fluidity and suppleness, carried by crystalline purity and a sumptuous slate‑evoking tannic structure. Incredible generosity, leading to a brilliant, mouthwatering finish marked by an utterly irresistible saline touch.

The nose is fruity, elegant, and velvety, offering a lovely multi-layered profile, a certain spicy intensity, a velvety feel to the spices, complexity, and depth. It also shows a fine, precise aromatic complexity. It reveals notes of fairly ripe/dense red berries, blackberry, and, more subtly, graphene, along with hints of crushed red berries, a touch of cornflower, discreet hints of lily, and a touch of Timut pepper. The palate is beautifully guided, supple, silky, vibrant, bright, elegant, and racy, with a tangy backbone, precision, tension, and deliciousness. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy/pulpy blackcurrant and violet, and more slightly of crushed/fairly ripe cherry, joined by touches of bright blue fruits and flashes of vibrant/fleshy raspberry. Good length. The tannins are racy, mellow, and finely toasted. A lovely fine chew and notes of toasted hazelnut on the finish/persistence. A wine offering lovely freshness, minerality, brightness, sparkle, and a finely chiseled, captivating/embracing character. Charming chocolatey persistence.