2008 Château Rauzan-Segla

Château Rauzan-Ségla is 130-acre estate in the Margaux appellation. It is a Second Growth estate, but it is often called a “super second,” a flattering term meaning that the wines of the château can be as remarkable as First Growths. In the 17th century Rauzan-Ségla was part of a large estate owned by Pierre de Mesures de Rauzan, a Bordeaux wine trader. The estate was eventually divided into four separate estates. After several changes of ownership – and a confusing and temporary name change to Rausan-Ségla – the estate was in 1994 sold to the Wertheimer family, which owns Chanel, the fashion and perfume conglomerate. The Wertheimers added property to the estate, which now includes 150 acres. Major improvements were made and the name was changed back to Rauzan-Ségla. To celebrate its 350th anniversary in 2011, the estate bottled its 2009 vintage with a label drawn by fashion legend Karl Lagerfeld. Winemaker and managing director is John Kolasa. The vineyards are planted to 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot and 2% each Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Some 8,000 cases are produced annually. The estate's second wine is Ségla.

Margaux is one of Bordeaux’s most famous appellations and also one of its largest, with about 3,400 acres of vineyards. Located on the Left Bank of the Gironde River, Margaux has the greatest number of classified-growth châteaux (or crus classé) according to the 1855 classification. There are twenty-one crus classé, including the most famous estate, the first growth Château Margaux. The Margaux appellation includes vineyards around the village of Margaux and the villages of Arsac, Cantenac, d’Issan, Labarde and Soussans. Wines from the best Margaux châteaux and vintages are prized for their perfumey fragrance and elegant, silky mouthfeel. Margaux wines are predominately Cabernet Sauvignon blended with Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc.