2014 Rauzan Segla

[JimHow]

Oh this is a beauty, like a 2014 Leoville Barton from Margaux. Beautifully understated, classic, I just feel it is drinking so beautifully at age nine and I can’t imagine why I would want to wait for years longer, although this will certainly age gracefully for another two decades. Very elegant but a nice structure too, everything is restrained, in a good way, very representative of Margaux, just like Leoville Barton with St. Julien. So easy to drink now, it was delicious with some roast chicken and grilled vegetables. So 2014. Beautiful! Rating: 95+ points.

[jckba]

Nice report and I have been eyeing that bottling for a while as just like with the Canon, it was John Kolasa’s last vintage.

[Racer Chris]

In 2018 I paid $60 for my one bottle. Now its up to $90+, which seems to be about the lowest price for a bottle of any vintage R-S currently available at retail.
I'm not planning to open mine for at least a few more years but will consider picking up another one or two if the planets align again in the near future.

[JimHow]

Gerry and I got it cheap during the NH sake, I think like about $45 Gerry? I got 5 bottles, should have got more. Picked up this bottle in Manhattan for a refehy dinner, it was well over $100, but that’s NYC of course.

[Gerry M.]

According to CT, I paid $59. I haven't opened any of mine but now I'm tempted to based on your notes.

[JimHow]

We were also accumulating a ton of $25 gift cards on top of the 15% off sale on that already low priced vintage in tax free NH with no shipping costs, so the savings were significant. I remember thinking to myself that I should have bought more Rauzan Segla.

[AKR]

Do you like it more than 2014 Canon?

[JimHow]

I don't recall having the 2014 Canon, although I have one bottle in the cellar.
Going to uncork a 2014 Cantemerle tonight, let's see how that puppy is.

[Gerry M.]

I forgot about the gift card impact. I guess it all depends on whether or not you want to take the savings earning the gift card or on the redemption. I chose the later.

Based on a $25 card for every $150 spent it would bring the bottle cost down go to $50 if you take it up front. I remember spending mine on more Bordeaux, Krug 164 and Dom

The $59 cost reflected a 15% case sale and then earned the $25 gift cards on top of that.

The funny but sad thing is NH changed the rules after that debackle I swear due to Jim and I just laying waste to their Bordeaux stocks. I don't remember exactly how many we "earned" but it had to be at least $4k between us
Do the math and thats almost $30k in Bordeaux alone, at sale pricing no less!

[Musigny 151]

The 2019 is available at Flickinger for $83

[jckba]

The 2019 is available at Flickinger for $83

$83.95 and there are only 2 btls.

[Racer Chris]

I bought that bottle in Manchester TW that I’ve been eying for a while, and I opened it last night. 2 1/2 hours later I drained the last sip from my glass after my last bite of the rare filet of rib I made for the occasion. That was a perfect pairing for the young Margaux.
I poured my first glass before starting dinner prep. The crushed berry aroma was so appealing right away but didn’t follow thru on the palate at first. Before long, and with the addition of cooking aromas pervading the kitchen, the palate came alive, showing complex fruit, balanced acidity, drying tannin, an elegant mouthfeel and long finish.
Each glass was better than the previous one. There were hints of further complexity. The faint green streak was well integrated and not bitter. No overt wood tones apart from an occasional sense of pencil sharpenings.
I finished both the boeuf and the Bordeaux, more than my intentions at the start. However, the wine elevated the meal, and I was powerless to stop until there was no more.

[JimHow]

That’s what I’m talking about.