The product image is for illustrative purposes only and may not exactly reflect the actual characteristics of the wine.
The wine
- Colour
- Dolce
- Alcohol
- 12.5% vol
Critics' scores
- Robert Parker / Wine Advocate 97
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.
- Wine Spectator 93
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. Drink now through 2035. 6,000 cases made. — JM
- James Suckling 98
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. Better after 2026.
- René Gabriel 18
Kunz Fassprobe 18: (83% Sémillon, 17% Sauvignon Blanc) Samtenes, cremiges, fein opulentes, frisches Bouquet, gekochte Äpfel, Mirabellengelee, Kreide, Vanille. Dichter, opulenter, kräftiger Gaumen mit kräftiger Süsse, guter Frucht, gut eingebundener Säure, kräftiger Aromatik, langer, opulenter Abgang. Kann noch zulegen.
- Vinous 94-97
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.
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.