Area under vines: 28,5 hectares
Soils: deep gravels, sandy gravels
Average age of the vines: 35 years
Planting density: 10 000 vines/ha
Production: 80,000 bottles a year
Aging: in 50% new oak barrels for 12 months
Grape varieties:
Second wine: LE CHEVALIER DE RAUZAN-GASSIES
Learn more about Château Rauzan-Gassies
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Tasted blind. Sweet palate entry and then some green tannins. Sudden finish.
Anticipated maturity: 2027-2037
The 2018 Rauzan Gassies has improved on the nose since I tasted it from barrel, losing some of its earthiness/greenness, light floral scents percolating through the black fruit. So far, so good. The palate is medium-bodied with hard tannins on the entry, and here there is a bit of herbaceousness. The finish feels bitter and stiff compared to its peers. I take no joy in writing that this is disappointing after the promising aromatics.
Anticipated maturity: 2022-2030
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.
