Château Rauzan-Gassies 2009 is the grand vin of this long-established Margaux Second Growth (Deuxième Grand Cru Classé in 1855). The estate has been owned by the Quié family since 1946, and the wine comes from Margaux’s classic deep gravel and sandy-gravel soils. In 2009—a notably warm, dry Bordeaux vintage—the château reported a “perfect harvest in great conditions,” a season that generally delivered fully ripe fruit and generous textures across the Médoc.

The 2009 blend is reported as 75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot. Winemaking is typically carried out in temperature-controlled stainless steel, followed by barrel aging in French oak for roughly 14–18 months (about 30% new oak), a regimen aimed at preserving Margaux perfume while building structure.

In the glass, the wine is repeatedly described as more about poise and drinkability than sheer mass. Neal Martin (Vinous) calls it “refined” on the nose, with “blackberry, cedar and light graphite notes,” adding that it can seem “a little closed down” at first but “opens nicely in the glass.” On the palate, Martin notes a “medium-bodied” style with “supple tannin” and “fine acidity,” finishing with “blackberry and bilberry fruit laced with sea salt and brine.” His conclusion is measured but positive: “Not amazing, but certainly one of the best recent vintages that I have encountered.” That 91-point review stands as an excellent endorsement for the château in this era.

Roger Voss (Wine Enthusiast) is similarly upbeat at 91 points, describing a “soft and ripe wine” that “shows the richness of the year while offering a core of tannins,” noting it is “immediately attractive” while still built to age. James Suckling (90 points) finds it “a little lean for the vintage,” emphasizing “mineral, blueberry and light chocolate” alongside “chewy tannins,” reinforcing the sense of a structured, classically styled Margaux meant to develop further in bottle.