Château Rauzan-Ségla, 2016 Update
The 2015 vintage has been all-change for certain parts of Bordeaux. As already discussed in my Château Canon Quartet, John Kolasa retired, leaving the post of managing director at the two Wertheimer estates, Château Rauzan-Ségla and Château Canon, vacant. Here, Nicolas Audebert has taken up the reins, and he has turned out a stunning wine at Château Canon, perhaps reflecting the advantage conferred by having a limestone terroir in this vintage. The appellation of Margaux did very well too though, nothing to do with limestone of course, and everything to do with that dry September weather. It has been something of a ‘dream’ first vintage for Nicolas, and here at Château Rauzan-Ségla he has also produced a wine worthy of the label.
Why ‘all change’ though? Well, digressing for a moment, Château Canon and Château Rauzan-Ségla are not alone in having seen a change of owner, technical director or other significant figure in this vintage. The 2015 vintage is the first at the helm for Eric Kohler at Château Lafite-Rothschild, replacing the outgoing Charles Chevallier, who stays on in an advisory (presumably semi-retired) role. The departure of Jean-Michel Laporte, director of Château La Conseillante, left a gap which has been filled by Marielle Cazaux, who moved here from Château Petit Village. Her position at the latter property has been filled by Diana Berrouet-Garcia, a graduate of the Lycée Agricole Angers. Also in Pomerol Château Beauregard has new owners, and after the retirement of manager Bruno Saison at Château Laroque this post has been filled by David Suire, otherwise best associated with Nicolas Thienpont and his work at Château Pavie-Macquin and Château Larcis Ducasse, among others. Happily, most of these lucky folk have had a good vintage to begin with, with only those towards the northern Médoc missing out on the good weather in 2015.
Please log in to continue reading: