This is a stunningly complex and elegant wine, but it is less muscular as well as less fat than either the 1983 or 1989. There are plenty of smoky almonds, peaches, and honeyed apricot fruit in the nose and flavors. In the mouth,... Read More
Although the 1988 received the highest marks of the 1988, 1989 and 1990 vintages, it remains a very backward wine. Full-bodied and powerful, extremely rich and dense, it may be the least evolved 1988. The nose offers enticing... Read More
The 1990 was precocious and flattering, with its tropical fruit-scented nose, big, spicy, rich, high alcohol flavors, and a fine underpinning of acidity giving everything clarity and crispness. The 1990 will be drinkable at an... Read More
A monumental effort, the 2001 Rieussec boasts a light to medium gold color in addition to a fabulous perfume of honeysuckle, smoky oak, caramelized tropical fruits, creme brulee, and Grand Marnier. The wine is massive and full-bodied... Read More
Ex-chateau bottle tasted blind in Sauternes. The Rieussec '03 has a strong Barsac like aromas - marmalade, quince, vanilla and coconut aromas that unfold nicely in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a ripe candied,... Read More
Ex-chateau bottle tasted blind in Sauternes. The Rieussec '03 has a strong Barsac like aromas - marmalade, quince, vanilla and coconut aromas that unfold nicely in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with a ripe candied,... Read More
Big, rich and juicy. Voluptuous, with aromas of caramel, apple and light tropical fruit. Full-bodied, round and very sweet, with loads of ripe fruit and a long butterscotch and piecrust aftertaste. Viscous texture. Hard not to... Read More
Tasted single blind against its peers. The Rieussec 2007 has a subtle nose of dried honey, pear, a touch of quince and crushed stone on the nose, the oak better integrated than last year. The palate is well-balanced with stem... Read More
Tasted single blind against its peers. The Rieussec 2007 has a subtle nose of dried honey, pear, a touch of quince and crushed stone on the nose, the oak better integrated than last year. The palate is well-balanced with stem... Read More
Tasted single blind against its peers. The Chateau Rieussec 2008 should become an excellent Sauternes for the vintage. It has a floral bouquet with peach, tinned apricot and a touch of marmalade, all with fine delineation, and... Read More
The team at Chateau Rieussec have conjured a stellar wine in 2009. There is a little reduction at first that fortunately blows away, revealing thickly layered scents of honey, Danish pastry and quince that appear to gain vigor... Read More
The 2010 Rieussec was missing a little intellect when I tasted it from barrel. Now in bottle it has become a contender for the finest Sauternes of the vintage. It is blessed with a pure and lifted bouquet with ripe peach, nectarine... Read More
Tasted blind at the Sauternes 2011 horizontal tasting. The Château Rieussec 2011 transcends its somewhat "middling" performance from barrel and delivers a knockout wine in bottle. For sure, it demonstrates a lot of vanilla from... Read More
The Château Rieussec 2014 is a blend of 93% Semillon, 5% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Muscadelle, picked from 15 to 29 October through seven tries, the yield half the normal crop at 13 hectoliters per hectare. Charles Chevalier, how... Read More
The 2015 Rieussec, a blend of 86% Semillon and 14% Sauvignon Blanc, was picked over five tries through the vineyard between 9 September and 27 October. "We had a bit of frost towards the end and 10% was harvested afterwards. The... Read More
Pale lemon colored, the 2016 Rieussec comes sashaying out of the glass with a beautiful floral and citrus perfume of orange blossom, pink grapefruit, yuzu, lime leaves, lemongrass and fallen leaves with hints of nutmeg and candied... Read More
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... Read More
Cooked apple on the nose, with dried lemon and honey. Full-bodied, thick and medium sweet, with a chalk and honey character. A little rustic, but interesting. Best after 2011.?-- JS (03/2010)
The 1983 has an intensely fruity bouquet suggestive of pineapples, fine depth and concentration, an unctuous quality, and crisp, fresh acidity. It is a very fruity, moderately sweet, well-knit Sauternes. Anticipated maturity:... Read More
The 1988 reveals a textbook, light gold color with a slight greenish hue. Although it does not display the weight of the 1990 or 1989, it has better acidity, high alcohol, and considerable sweetness. It is somewhat disjointed,... Read More