Primeurs - Château Rauzan-Ségla 2024 - Margaux

A QUESTION OF TRUST

2024 set its own capricious rhythm. The weather sped up, slowed down then finally took off; the vines followed suit. The score was not always easy to follow, but at Rauzan-Ségla the players kept their cool. Stoic poise was the order of the day, in the vines and in the winery: breathe, feel the beat, adjust. Timing is everything. The season was intense but the teams remained calm, perfectly synchronised in every movement, every effort.

Unflinching trust through thick and thin; a magnificent collective achievement.

OVERTURE

ADJUSTING GESTURES

In the depths of winter, the earth goes about its silent business. Above the surface, our teams are toiling to respond to the rainy season: it is time to anticipate, orchestrate. Prepare the plans, assign the roles. Train the new recruits. Tune the instruments. When the show finally begins you have to keep up with the tempo, all together.

Budbreak comes early, the vines grow fast, energised by the mild April weather. Right on cue, we spring into action. The new winegrowing hub is a hive of activity: a tightly choreographed ballet of tractors, criss-crossing the entire vineyard within the space of a single day. Heightened efficiency in the name of organic agriculture, certified this year.

The cool, damp conditions return in May, but our fighting spirit withstands the threatening weather. Infusions, decoctions: herbal teas for healthy vines. Leaves are thinned to welcome in the rising sun: more light, more air. Total serenity. Coddled and cared for, the vines stay strong – the fruit will soon be with us.

Testimonies

Sabrina

"There's a good cohesion between us. We stand together. We play the game."

Jonathan

"Here, we're lucky to have good tractors and equipment. It's like clockwork."

François

"Living things evolve, and so do we. Even after 35 years in this profession, I’m still learning every year."

Breathe, feel the beat, adjust. Timing is everything.

APOGEE

MASTERING THE MOMENT

Just a few more days to wait, as ripeness heaves into view. Fruit set was long, the sugar levels creeping up slowly. The vines are under close observation: nothing escapes our eagle eyes. We test, we taste, we talk. Every day, plans are made, confirmed and postponed. All in pursuit of the same goal: the perfect moment.

Finally, the green light: time to harvest. A legion of pickers takes to the field, focused and determined. Hundreds of hands working in unison, eyes peeled for the next decisive cut – sorting starts in the vines. All hands are on deck, full-timers and seasonal helpers working side-by-side, united in this shared endeavour.

In the winery, the cold room provides a new level of precision. The fruit retains its freshness, we take the time to breathe, to fine-tune our selections. Temperatures are kept under control, fermentation begins serenely: it takes two days before the vats start to bubble. Slowly but surely, the juices weave their magic.

Learnings

Infusions

We prepare plant decoctions to strengthen the vine's natural defences.

The Workshop

André, the mechanic of Rauzan, maintains and repairs the equipment to ensure it is always operational. The tractor drivers get involved. The settings become more precise.

The Cellar

A cold room to store the just-picked grapes and adjustments of the cooling system of the vats enabled us to observe and sort as much as necessary, and to start the fermentation process gently, at low temperature. Tests of maturing the wine in casks and amphorae have also begun.

Unwavering confidence for a Rauzan that lives up to its name

FINALE

THE SEARCH FOR HARMONY

Blending: piecing together the puzzle. So many pieces, so many questions. Compare, consider, adjust. Lengthy conversations on how best to capture the essence of the vintage: 63.5% Cabernet, a vibrant frame. Then Merlot for its fleshy pleasures: 34% to balance the scales. Sprinklings of Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc, for verve and spice.

The vintage reveals a sleek silhouette, sculpted without being austere, showing asterful balance. It embodies both fruit and flower: a beautiful red cherry with a violet core. It embodies both tenderness and freshness: an almond enveloped in liquorice and a hint of white pepper. An almost spring-like aroma, both lingering and sophisticated.