A magical Sauternes that shows how good the 2001 vintage was for the region, the 2001 Château Rieussec offers a spectacular nose of caramelized quince, honeyed flowers, crème brulée, and exotic spices. Wonderfully pure and precise, with good acidity, it still brings a monster of a mid-palate and has boatloads of fruit and opulence, flawless balance, and a brilliant finish.
Reviews:
- James Suckling: This is a crazy wine! It’s sweet, but not sugary. Mushrooms, furniture wax, spices then dried oranges, lemons, pineapples, and just a hint of vanilla. Full-bodied, with great density and power, yet balanced and refined.
- Wine Spectator: Like lemon curd on the nose, turning to honey and caramel. Full-bodied and very sweet, with fantastic concentration of ripe and botrytized fruit, yet balanced and refined. Electric acidity. Lasts for minutes on the palate. This is absolutely mind-blowing.
Producer Information
Château Rieussec is a wine producer located in Fargues, in the Sauternes appellation in Bordeaux. It makes sweet wines from a classic Bordeaux blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc, and was classified as a first growth in the 1855 Classification of Sauternes and Barsac, alongside the finest sweet white wines the region. In the 18th Century, the estate was tended to by Carmelite monks before being confiscated in the French Revolution. After passing hands several times, it has now come under the ownership of Barons de Rothschild (which owns Château Lafite Rothschild), in partnership with Albert Frére of LVMH. Château Rieussec’s 2001 vintage was 1 in Wine Spectator’s Top 100 in 2004. The 93 hectares (230 acres) of vineyards are planted mostly with Semillon, alongside plots of Sauvignon Blanc and a small amount of Muscadelle. Estate vineyards border those with Château d’Yquem to the west. The terroir in Sauternes helps the spread of Botrytis cinerea, and Rieussec’s grapes are hand-harvested as they are affected by noble rot. The best bunches are used to make the grand vin, which after fermentation spends 26 months in oak, about half new. Remaining juice is used to make the second wine, Carmes de Rieussec, which is only aged for 18 months. A dry white wine, R de Rieussec, is made from a blend of Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc and is partially barrel-fermented
