$100 and over
Château Rauzan-Ségla 2eme Cru Classe Margaux
Product Information: Created in 1989, Ségla is made from vines located on the patchwork of terroirs encompassing the historic centre of Château Rauzan-Ségla. It takes its name from Baron Pierre-Louis de Ségla whose marriage with Catherine de Rauzan gave the full name of the property in 1785. The tower represented on its label was erected in 1905, this depicts the entrance of the property and that offers a spectacular view over the vineyards on one side and the park of the chateau on the other. Worked by the same team and according to the same requirements as the Grand Cru Classé, it is an initiation to the sophistication and the philosophy of the estate: a delicate, tasty and expressive style which elegantly imprints the distinction of the great terroirs of the Margaux appellation. 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 53% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, 1 % Cabernet Franc. 18 months in barrel, 20% new oak. 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. Vineyard: Rauzan-Ségla’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. Château Rauzan-Ségla’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. Nose - Tobacco, Truffle, Red and Dark Fruits There hints of tobacco leaf, truffle, herbs and flowers poke through the ripe, red and dark red fruits. Palate - Concentrated, Silky, Generous The wine is concentrated, silky, uplifting and generous, as well as long, fresh and pure. Finish - Fresh, Pure, Controlled Controlled power, structured, with fine tannins. Tasted blind. Rich and rather opulent nose. Simple and easy with good refreshing raciness. Could be Rauzan-Ségla? Good and complete. Really zesty. Likely to be VGV - Vin de Garde de Viticulture" or Wine for Aging from Viticulture which refers to wines that are produced with the intention of aging. - Jancis Robinson. Still young, but you can find hints of tobacco leaf, truffle, herbs and flowers poke through the ripe, red and dark red fruits. The wine is concentrated, silky, uplifting and generous, as well as long, fresh and pure. This wine will need 12-15 years before it really starts opening and showing its true essence. - Jeff Leve, The Wine Cellar Insider, 97 Points.
Jonata Fenix Bordeaux Blend
Product Information: From legendary producer Screaming Eagle. The 2017 Jonata Fenix Bordeaux Blend, comprised of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. It's heady and perfumed with an intoxicating nose pulling you in with notes of ripe black fruit, almond brioche and violets. Its generous and luxurious fruit saturates the palate. A wine of breadth and power that also boasts a truly silky texture. Powerful but stays buoyant and lively through the finish. The final blend is 40% Merlot, 32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot. The oak regime is typically 60% new French oak, 40% twice used French oak (225L). Maker: Owned by the iconic Screaming Eagle, JONATA wines are on the vanguard of an emerging quality movement in California winegrowing. The Ballard Canyon AVA is located within the greater Santa Ynez Valley appellation. As California’s Central Coast most notable emerging locations, JONATA’s sandy site and its team’s winegrowing know-how have produced results that are widely recognised as the best ever seen from this region. Dedicated to expressing a range of red—and a handful of white—wines from its estate in the Central Coast of California’s Ballard Canyon appellation within Santa Ynez Valley, Jonata is one of a new breed of producers throughout the world who are thriving with a non-traditional amalgam of varieties and blends. With a commitment in particular to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Syrah, and informed by cutting edge viticulture, winemaking and a polyface approach to their estate, the Jonata wines are on the vanguard of an emerging quality movement in California winegrowing. Jonata is dedicated to sustainability from the inside out; a principled approach to farming. With its use of polyface farming—as first introduced to America by Michael Pollan in his book “The Omnivore’s Dilemma”—Jonata integrates and revolves livestock (chickens, turkeys, goats, pigs and sheep) in their farming model, which naturally enhances the soil and health of their land not to mention that of the critters themselves and the Jonata community! We maintain a large communal garden and an orchard that produces our own estate olive oil along with honey from bees raised on the ranch. Water is used judiciously and with precision. Herbicides and pesticides don’t even enter the conversation. Vineyard: 2017 had a went winter that broke the drought, giving the soils a good drink. Yet it was certainly a year with some of the smallest yields and earliest harvest dates for Jonata (with a few of the first picks coming in mid-August). There were great growing conditions in June and July before a suddenly cool August. Some early harvest prior to the warm periods graced blends with freshness and structural integrity. Some select blocks were picked after the heat had passed, fleshing out the wines with density and power. The combination of these characteristics resulted in wines of purity, balance and complexity. Nose - Perfumed, New Leather, Blackberry Preserve Heady and perfumed with an intoxicating nose that immediately pulls you in with notes of ripe black fruit, almond brioche and violets. Palate - Generous Fleshy Fruit, Espresso Notes, Silky Texture Ripe, fleshy, full-bodied, and loaded with fruit, it still shows the vintage’s more elegant, classic style. Finish - Plum, Chocolate, Ground Herbs A wine of breadth and power that also boasts a truly silky texture. Stays buoyant and lively through the finish.
Segla By Chateau Rauzan Segla Margaux
Château Rauzan-Ségla has a long history, with the first vines planted on the property in 1661. However, the official birth date of the château is considered to be 1763, when it separated from Rauzan-Gassies. The estate was gradually divided through the generations of the Rauzan family, but it gained a reputation and was classified as a Deuxieme Grand Cru Classe in 1855 alongside Château Mouton Rothschild. While the wines of the late 19th century became legendary, subsequent success was hindered by several obstacles, including a decline in vineyard area and outdated equipment. The estate was later acquired by the Wertheimer family, who continued to improve the vineyards and facilities, consolidating the Grand Vin as a super-second. Château Rauzan-Ségla has 70 hectares of vineyards, planted with the four Bordeaux grape varieties. The Grand Vin of Château Rauzan-Ségla is made with great care, using grapes from the main vineyards where the old Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines grow in well-cultivated soils. Small vats are used to create different batches that correspond to specific plots. Segla, the second wine of the estate, was created in 1989 and is produced using grapes from the vineyards surrounding the historic centre of Château Rauzan-Ségla. The wine is made with the same care and attention as the Grand Vin but is aged with less new oak and is typically less Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant. Segla is a renowned wine produced by Château Rauzan-Ségla, made from a blend of 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 53% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. The wine undergoes an 18-month aging process in barrels, with 20% of new oak used in the process. The 2018 vintage of Segla is structured with a full body and firm, chewy tannins that are polished and focused. It has a tight hazelnut finish and is recommended for drinking in 2024. James Suckling gave it a rating of 93 points.