2022 Rauzan Gassies

The 2022 Château Rauzan-Gassies checks in as a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 24% Merlot raised in 57% new barrels. Its inky ruby/plum hue is followed by an impressive nose of ripe black cherries, redcurrants, spicy oak, and flowery incense. This carries to a medium to full-bodied Margaux offering plenty of mid-palate depth, ripe, polished tannins, and a great finish. It's beautifully done and well worth seeking out. It's going to evolve gracefully over the coming two decades.

The 2022 Rauzan Gassies continues to show plenty of pressed flower aromas on the nose, perhaps obscuring the fruit profile more than I would have liked. The palate is medium-bodied with grainy tannins, mocha-tinged black fruit and a solid finish that just lacks the finesse of its peers. This is not a bad Rauzan Gassies, though I need to be convinced of its longevity.

Very pretty blackberries and blackcurrants to this wine, with a hint of lead pencil. It’s medium-bodied with creamy and refined tannins and a polished finish. A Rauzan-Gassies that shows precision and focus, especially in this hot vintage. Drink after 2027 and beyond.