Fresh and powerful on the nose with citrus character such as mandarin peel, together with gently toasted aromas. Smooth and full on the palate, leading to a long and complex finish with notes of dried apricots, caramel and bitter orange.
Reviews:
- James Suckling: So much botrytis on the nose with spice, dried mushrooms and nutmeg. Dried lemons and mangoes. Full-bodied and medium sweet with density and, at the same time, lightness. I like that it is full of botrytis on the palate at the beginning and then turns fruity and very pretty at the end with citrus and fruit.
- Jeb Dunnuck: A step up over the Carmes de Rieussec, the beautiful 2016 Château Rieussec has remarkable purity and freshness while still packing beautiful depth of fruit. Honeyed peach, apricot, flower oil, and even a hint of wet stone all emerge from this full-bodied, thick, opulent effort. I love it.
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
