Winemaker Notes

Bordeaux’s regal estates are celebrated for their grand vins, but their lesser-known bottlings can offer a chance to partake in their winemaking magic at reasonable prices. Few can touch the value offered by Château Rauzan-Gassies’ 2018 L’Orme—a 95-point drink-now champion produced by the Margaux Second Growth. Bold, rich, and under the radar, it’s a rare chance to try this category of producers on a budget.

L’Orme is a blend of approximately 65% Merlot and 35% Cabernet grown on the sandy gravel soils of the Medoc, just outside Margaux. This is a classic left bank Bordeaux, full-bodied with ripe cassis flavors, notes of violet, vanilla and sandalwood, followed by a firm, dry yet elegant finish.

This is without any doubt, a truly great vintage. How could it not be with such exceptional weather conditions from mid-June to the end of October! The harvests took place in the sunshine, at a measured pace, perfectly adapted to achieving the objectives for each plot in terms of phenolic and aromatic maturity. The end result is a wine that is powerful yet elegant with very ripe tannins and well-balanced in acidity and alcohol. Comparable to the exceptional 2005 vintage.