Rauzan Seglas 2008

Dark ruby with a tight garnet rim still. Bottle ageing for vintage 2008 Rauzan Segla has augmented its tertiary tones with a confident nose of floral, coolish menthol, liquorice, black cherry-plum fruit, truffle, thyme, and classy subtle wood tones. The palate is woody. Not too overpowered and overstructured, this bodied 2008 should drink quickly now. The bottle we tasted was slightly over-decanted. The wine should have more power.

Rauzan Seglas 2008 is well-liked by us because it won't break the bank and for the qualities:

1. Silky smooth tannins and freshness (premium fruit quality, sorting, parcel by parcel vinification, relatively low alcohol at 13.5% still despite higher merlot content used) that lingers on your palate and adds exceptional ripeness to it(higher merlot composition like 32%, the rest being Cabernet);

2. Vigorous mid-palate intensity good structure(increased to 10,000 vines per hectare, efficient drainage with a new drainage system, crop thinning, smaller vats);

3. Reasonable complexity integrated primary, secondary and tertiary tones(4 royal grapes by design);

4. Medium Power(vinification takes place at 35 Celsius for right extraction, malolactic fermentation in smaller vats for fixing even better fruit, the wine aged in an average 60% new, French oak barrels for between 18 months hence the richness)

93 points, James Suckling

Here is 2008 with a velvety texture, yet the underlying bright acidity comes through simultaneously. Medium to full body, firm and chewy tannins and a fresh finish. Very pretty and energetic. Just opening now. (6/2016)

93 points Wine Enthusiast(edited)

This powerful wine is big, rich, and almost velvet in texture. It has spicy blackberry fruits, layers of wood, and black plum skins. Powerful wine for long-term ageing and medium-term accessibility. *Cellar Selection* (RV) (4/2011). (Edited)