Delectable Wine

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9.3

The 2012 Rauzan-Ségla has a similar colour to the 2015 although it has a hard time competing with the delineation, the crystalline nature of the 2015. Yet it compensates with the sheer aromatic flamboyance. This has really opened up in the last 18 months or so, quite lush and precocious black fruit, loam and iris, just a slight hint of bell pepper emanating from the small amount of Cabernet Franc. The palate is medium-bodied with fine grain tannin. There is a lovely seam of acidity here that lends the 2012 a sense of focus. It is not a deep or lavish Rauzan-Ségla, in some ways a little more conservative than I recall. There is fine grip on the saline finish, perhaps a Margaux that is just beginning to close up for a while? This still has great potential. Tasted at the Rauzan-Ségla vertical at the château. (Neal Martin, Vinous, May 2018) — 6 years ago

Martin Mills

9.1

Shows its age in the colour, it’s a lovely deep ruby with tawny edges. The nose is all raspberry but slightly stewed, again reflective of the time it’s had to unfold. Fragrant, with that distinctive New Zealand Pinot note of jasmine tea, and something like prosciutto (I mean that as a compliment). More jasmine tea on the palate, along with a seam of mineral/sea salt and lashings of fruit, both fresh and crunchy and cooked. Very fine indeed. Weighs in at 14.5 abv and there is a bit of heat to it, but nothing to worry about. Drinking superbly now and by all indications has a few more good years left. — 7 years ago

Martin Mills

9.2

Pale gold colour, still youthful. Chablis style with little evidence of oak; instead, a rich seam of minerality and tropical fruit with tooth licking acidity and a long finish that reveals many layers. Not what I expected from a premium new world Chardonnay but utterly delicious - fireworks. — 8 years ago

Ryan Carver

9.5

Fantastic. Opulent, decadent, flavor bursting out of every seam. — 9 years ago

Pierpaolo Petrassi MW

Master of Wine; Head of Beer, Wine & Spirits Waitrose

8.9

Typical Vasse elegance in this new (to me!) Chardonnay cuvée, but lots of rich fruit too. Retains that lovely, Burgundian seam of savoury which all good Margaret River Chardonnays should have. — 9 years ago

Peter Scudamore-Smith MW

9.7

In an era of making cabernets for softies here is one with poise and structure; hard to find but another group gave it a trophy; recognition of completeness at such a young age; has a tannic seam setting it apart from many floppy Coonawarras and Margaret Rivers who think to have claimed the pinnacle; tautly wound flavours of tobacco and olive, no raw fruit flavours only finesse here with a coulis of tastes; Blue Pyrenees Estate #avoca 2012 cabernet 68%, merlot 22%, malbec 8%, shiraz 2% (probably used for topping); #drinkoz #drinkvictoria #pyrenees #bluepyrenees #estateblend 14%, AUD 40 #cabernetsauvignon #merlot #malbec #shiraz ; long ager too, think decades; a wine one must try; tasted alongside Segla 2005 from Margaux in magnum; similar tannins just drier! — 10 years ago

Martin Mills

8.9

Cola, punchy, seam of acidity pairs nicely with chicken liver mousse — 7 years ago

Michael Winterbottom

9.7

Darker fruit driven, but has a seam of red fruit from the 25% Grenache. Leather riding jacket, gun stock/used shotgun casings. Sweet and sour sauce! Earthy but sweeter fruit character with bramble fruit, black berries fresh and crushed, strawberry jam, dried red roses and wilting violets. Slight oyster mushroom/Cremini mushrooms and oxidative barrel quality. Really drinking well and approachable now and cabbage for another 10-15 years. — 7 years ago

Martin Mills

9.1

The low scores for this great wine are surprising. While not the sexiest of the Otago pinots this is a brilliantly made wine with great aging potential. At five plus years, the 13 is still dark and brooding, dark fruit driven with a racy seam of that saline and Asian spice profile that distinguishes good NZ Pinot. On the fuller bodied side, red and black fruit on the nose, a bit of tannin to give it structure and a medium to long finish that reveals jasmine tea and more spice. Alas, my last bottle of three my good friend brought for me from Saskatchewan — 7 years ago

Joe Kaiser

9.1

Decanted for a hour & a half. On the nose picked up cassis, leather, faint earthiness, & a rich of oak. The palate a nice cherry, giving away to red fruits, the tannins seam to be integrating nicely, nice balance. — 8 years ago

Michael Horkay

9.0

This is a burgundy to drink now. Being if this pedigree I expected more from this wine and felt it night be closed it might just be drinking at apex.... Wide range of scores seam to agree with that assessment. Still had wonderful cherry earthy fruit with hints of morels. Yum albeit slowly. — 9 years ago

Mike Mayer

8.9

A subtle but elegant nose of spice and oak that leads to a rush of plum and spice on the palate. Acidity and tannins seam to have struck a very nice balance which makes this wine very drinkable now. I am a big fan of Sta Rita Hills wines and this one does not disappoint. — 10 years ago

Guy Davies

9.5

Seam of richness to this. Very very smooth indeed. Texturally absolutely gorgeous but otherwise rather closed at the moment. More to come for sure — 10 years ago

Michael Winterbottom

9.6

A very powerful wine from a classic vineyard ands showing beautiful blue and black fruits with a seam of underripe strawberries to back it all up. Strong mint varietal character kind of wraps that fruit up with a touch of chocolate... Peppermint Patties but also with those Queen Anne cherry chocolates. Tasteful usage of oak helps mellow the power this wind has bound up. There are layers to this wine after some time in the decanter, showing graphite and framing the wine with a distinct sense of place. This wine has life in it still and is starting to just now start swinging well and probably for another 20 years. — 7 years ago

Martin Mills

9.3

The top wine from the now defunct producer of what I’d rank as the best wines yet made in Canada, making this perhaps the pinnnacle of Canadian winemaking. This one is mellowing in its dotage, but delivering superbly complex layers of Meursault-like popcorn/toast/smoke on top of a seam of minerality that traces from salinity through to lime citrus fruit. Lovely golden hue in the glass, I expect this to continue to evolve ever more finesse for at least five more years. Seemingly unavailable any more in Ontario, I found this at The Port NSLC in Halifax for $87 and a special occasion. — 7 years ago

Alex Hirst

9.0

Fig, Plum blueberry and black cherry fruit. Soft, satisfyingly grainy tannin and fine seam of acidity. Tobacco, cedar and cocoa on the finish. — 8 years ago

jeremy avnet

9.8

So much flavor!! Wow. E loved this one tremendously. — 8 years ago

Ed Merrison

9.3

This is a delight. Poached stone fruits, honey and a seam of crème brûlée on the nose, some lime and peach on the palate that still has vitality. Finishes long & nutty, with a sweet honey lick. — 9 years ago

Stuart Robinson

9.3

Florals, Green apple, pithy citrus/sherbet character; suggestive tropical fruit notes (not as prominent as prior - cooler - vintage)

Crunchy acid, citrus flourishes more akin to lime, a little honeyed note perhaps (golden delicious oxidative hint)

Good length, not just a line merchant, has a little swing and seam to the armoury too. Sustained flavour reaching into the farthest recesses of the palate, a memory of what came before and a reminder to reach for the glass again. 93 — 10 years ago

Guy Davies

9.4

Darker appearance and a big, chocolately seam on the nose. Tannins relatively soft, tastes young, hot, powerful. Dark cherry. Very enjoyable if rather brutal at the moment. Give another 4 years and then another 40 afterwards.. — 10 years ago