The 1998 Rauzan-Ségla is a blend of 59% Cabernet Sauvignon and 41% Merlot. Medium to deep garnet-brick colored, it has a lovely nose of baked plums, dried cranberries, mulberries and licorice with nuances of leather, baking spices and dusty soil. The medium-bodied palate still maintains a surprising amount of fruit with fine-grained tannins and seamless freshness, finishing with great length. While this is not a particularly complex Rauzan-Ségla, it is an outstanding example. It's unlikely to improve much, yet it is maturing slowly and should offer collectors a lot of joy over the next 15 years+.

Ruby-red. Penetrating, minerally aromas of raspberry, redcurrant and cedary oak. Denser and more structured than the '99; with its firmer acidity, this is more classic claret. Very rich, sharply delineated wine that will require at least seven or eight years of bottle aging.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate 23/04/2001 A blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon and 35% Merlot, this classic, austerely-styled Medoc exhibits medium to full body, true breed as well as class, and excellent aromas of subtle herbs, cedar, cassis, and new wood. Rich, medium to full-bodied, sweet on the attack, and moderately tannic, it will benefit from 4-5 more years of cellaring. Anticipated maturity: 2006-2018.