Primeurs - Château Rauzan-Ségla 2022 - Margaux

A SUNNY VINTAGE AND ITS RANGE OF POSSIBILITIES

The 2022 vintage of Rauzan-Ségla exudes density. A warm and silky wine; the chromatic reflection of a resilient nature. A suspenseful story unfolds in the depths of our gravelly soil. The winemaker observes and supports. Decisions are made on a day-to-day basis. An intriguing vintage. Full-bodied and smooth. An aromatic refuge of juicy, blood-red black cherry. Of figs. Of crushed wild strawberries. Stunning notes of violet. A thousand sunny shades of rich fruit, which envelops us.

2022

A CLIMATE OF EXTREMES

A sun-soaked year. Starting with a hot spring in May. June saw the first intense heat waves. July and then August followed suit, with a few stormy showers. The vines were put to the test by extreme weather events that followed in close succession and persisted. But Nature was already revealing her intelligence. The berries were adapting, protecting themselves with thick skins... Persevering and prospering. Coming to terms with this early exposure. The plants were sustained by the water retained in the clay layers of the subsoil.

The capacity of the soil to regulate and the physiology of the plant proved to be decisive, delaying the extreme phenomena. We observed and accompanied the vines, armed with our questions, but fascinated by the strength with which the history of the vintage was being written. Interested by the potential of the Cabernet berries that we tasted on the vine. Long and smooth cycles until the days of harvest, serene picking.

OUR TECHNICAL CHOICES

Accompanying

Uninterruptedly, season after season, Nature has set the pace and the winemaker has followed. Almost in the background. Applying little pressure, thinning out very few leaves. Should we remove the secondary shoots here? Or prune the laterals? An observer's decisions, telling a story of attentiveness. Of fascination.

Harvesting

Each plot at the right time. Material and colour that launch a tranquil harvest, gently and in compliance with the zoning. On Caillou Rouge 1, the north-facing Merlot is harvested and vinified separately from the south-facing grapes. Meticulousness and passion.

Preserving

Each indicator is precisely adjusted. The winemaker tempers the ardour of a rich vintage. Temperature management, shorter vatting times, extractions halted early, work on the presses. The revelation takes place. The fermentations reveal an acidity beyond all expectations.

I cannot recall ever having tasted such intense and exceptional Cabernet-Sauvignons.
François Baudoux, vineyard manager

BLENDING

72%

26%

Cabernet-Sauvignon

An explosion of flavours. Lively and powerful, distinguished by its complexity. Fruit and spices on the finish. Very great potential.

Merlot

Suave, ethereal, rather lively. The attack is round, then the wine spreads out, carried by the tannic structure. Perceptible silky sensation.

Petit Verdot

Floral character. Elegant and delicate texture. The nose develops notes of violets, underlined by a green pepper which awakens its freshness.

THE WINE

A thousand nuances of complex, sun-soaked fruit

Tasting immerses us in the naturally rich, powerful world of 2022. Built around black fruit, the wine is beautifully dense with ripe, fleshy fruit such as Bigarreau cherry. This intense fruitiness is combined with the tone of citrus notes, adding a sanguine touch to the wine.

Sappy touches, a tussle of complex aromas. Smooth tannins, just tightly knit enough, clad the fruit in elegance and coat the palate for a lingering finish. Mineral, almost chalky notes at the end keep the wine’s energy going.