Description
Château Rieussec is considered one of the jewels of the Sauternes and Barsac appellation. This golden nectar requires a team of vignerons who are knowledgeable, flexible, and able to easily pivot. Making Sauternes is not easy, as a lot of it relies on the capricious elements of nature. Producing this beautiful wine from botrytized grapes is an accomplishment in itself but producing one of the top expressions of Sauternes in the world like the offerings of Château Rieussec is something to be celebrated.
CRITIC ACCLAIM
JS 98 | James Suckling 98 points
Inspirational depth with botrytis spice, toffee, dried-apricot and sponge-cake character. Full-bodied, very sweet and lively with a long, endless finish. Lively acidity balances the wine. Tight and linear. Compact column of fruit and botrytis. Give it age.
WA 97 | Wine Advocate 97 points
A blend of 83% Semillon and 17% Sauvignon Blanc, the 2017 Rieussec is pale to medium lemon-gold colored. To begin, the nose blows you away with intense lemon tart, lime cordial, mango and quince notes followed by a second wave of floral, orange blossoms and honeysuckle scents, and then notes of crushed rocks, crème caramel and marzipan join the party. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is still very tightly wound with concentrated sweetness and a racy backbone to match, delivering layer upon layer of citrus and savory flavors, finishing on a persistent mineral note. (LPB)
WE 95-97 | Wine Enthusiast 95-97 points
Hugely rich, this wine has great intensity. Ripe mango and peach flavors boast a strong botrytis flavor, giving it full-bodied concentration. With its larger-than-life richness, it needs many years to calm down. Drink from 2025. (RV)
VN 94-97 | Vinous 94-97 points
Still in barrel, the 2017 Rieussec is just as impressive as it was en primeur. Rich, ample and voluptuous, the 2017 has all the intensity that is so typical of Rieussec, but with the extra kick of freshness that is now such an emphasis here. Candied orange peel, crême brulée, vanillin, passion fruit and pineapple emerge from the glass. I can’t wait to taste this from bottle. (AG)
WS 93 | Wine Spectator 93 points
Delivers some rare floral lift for the vintage, with a honeysuckle edge out front, pulling creamed mango and papaya notes along. Flashes of green tea, hazelnut and piecrust emerge on the finish. Showy, but with nice detail buried within. Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. (JM)
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