Chateau Rauzan Gassies 2018

WINEADVOCATE: "Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, the 2018 Rauzan-Gassies rocks up with flamboyant notions of kirsch, blackberry preserves, warm cassis and Chinese five spice with touches of black tea, red roses and menthol plus a waft of molten chocolate. Medium to full-bodied with a firm frame of ripe, fine-grained tannins and fantastic freshness, it has a solid core of rich fruit, finishing long with perfumed red and black fruit layers."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "The effort that has gone into improving this estate is paying off. A wine like this allows the château to take its rightful classed growth place. Full of rich tannins, the wine also has the stylishness of a Margaux with a fine line of black-currant fruits and a ripe texture. Drink from 2026."

ANTONIO GALLONI: "The 2018 Rauzan Gassies is superb. Powerful and savory to the core, the 2018 packs a serious punch. Gravel, tobacco, cedar and grilled herbs add striking aromatic complexity and nuance. Classy and full of personality, the 2018 is one of the finest Rauzan Gassies in recent memory."

JAMES SUCKLING: "A red with plenty of blackberry, blackcurrant and tile aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied, yet tight and compressed on the palate with firm, chewy tannins that are fine and very long. Needs three or four years to open, but will improve nicely going forward. Try after 2024."

DECANTER: "The tannins are a little constrictive on the attack, and it means the fruit struggles to break free, but as it settles into the glass there are plenty of Margaux floral aromatics and soft berry fruits. 50% new oak. Drinking Window 2026 - 2042"

FALSTAFF: "Kräftiges Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, dezente Randaufhellung. Tabakig, rotes Waldbeerkonfit, blumige Nuancen, frische Kirschen und Orangenzesten. Saftig, rote Kirschen auch am Gaumen, feine, zart wirkende Tannine, dezente Süße im Abgang, ausgewogen, frisch strukturiert, ein schlanker, seidiger Margaux, der bereits früh zugänglich sein wird. (2020–2030)"