The product image is for illustrative purposes only and may not exactly reflect the actual characteristics of the wine.
The wine
- Colour
- Dolce
- Alcohol
- 14.0% vol
Critics' scores
- Robert Parker / Wine Advocate 87?
The 2003 Rieussec is a blend of 91% Semillon, 6% Sauvignon Blanc and 3% Muscadelle picked between 17 September and 1 October. Much deeper in color than other vintages, it has a mature, almost tropical mango and passion fruit nose that feels a little one-dimensional. The palate is medium-bodied and smooth on the entry, a little waxy in texture with nutmeg and dried honey notes on the mature, Tokaji-like finish. Given my previous remarks, I wonder if this Rieussec is in decline, especially as vintages of similar age appear to be prospering. Approach with caution. Tasted April 2016.
- Wine Spectator 95
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 drink it now. A wonderful sticky. Best after 2010. 6,250 cases made. ?JS
- James Suckling 97
So rich and powerful with so much dried apricots and citrus aromas and flavors. Caramel and toffee. Full and very sweet. Amazing.
- René Gabriel 18
04: Mittleres, leuchtendes Gelb mit hellgoldenen Reflexen. Würziges Bouquet mit Haselnüssen; sehr vielschichtig, die Botrytis ist noch etwas defensiv, ein Hauch Orangen im Nasenbild. Im Gaumen dicht, konzentriert mit gut ausbalanciertem Säure-Süsse-Spiel, nicht so reich wie andere Brummer in diesem Jahr. Für einmal ein eher femininer, auf Eleganz setzender Rieussec. (18/20). 14: Noch macht er sich gut und ich hoffe, dass ihn nicht das gleiche Schicksal erreicht wie viele andere hoch gejubelte Rieussec's. Nämlich, das diese zu schnell reifen. Sehr süss, weiche Säure, tolle Konzentration. trinken (2006 - 2030)
- Vinous 92-95
Medium yellow-gold. Reticent but pure aromas of fruit salad, spices and vanilla, lifted by floral and mineral nuances. Wonderfully honeyed, fat fruit flavors are complemented by cinnamon, clove and nutmeg. The sexy oak treatment gives lift to the wine. A bit youthfully aggressive but very long on the back end, showing vanillin oak and a bit of warmth. But this one offers superb potential.
The producer: Château Rieussec
Under the same ownership as Lafite-Rothschild, the Château Rieussec vineyard is one of the largest properties in Sauternes and Barsac. The 93-hectare estate stretches from the border of Fargues and Sauternes, neighboring the vines of rival Château d’Yquem. Since 1984, Rieussec has belonged to Domaines Barons de Rothschild. They have made large investments in the cellar, as well as in the vineyards. This increase in quality-conscious procedures, including grape selection has led to smaller production numbers - here a single vine produces about a glass of wine. Fermentation is carried out in new-oak barriques, made by their very own cooper. The resulting wines are consistently powerful but classically structured, showing the opulence of Sauternes in an age-worthy Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc blend. This First Growth estate is undoubtedly a reference-point for sweet wine producers around the world.