Château Rieussec 2021

Intense aroma, bright, expansive, exotic fruits, ripe pineapple, floral notes, a fascinating nose, rich, creamy, opulent yet elegant, racy acidity, lots of spice, very long finish. An antithesis to the baroque Sauternes style, with great drinkability.

Medium golden yellow, silver reflections. On the nose, subtle notes of lanolin, a hint of marzipan, fresh oranges, mango and peach, red berries and botrytis savouriness. Juicy and elegant with notes of yellow tropical fruit, showing the freshness of the cool season of the year, a mineral touch and a lasting finish. An elegant Rieussec, already approachable with some development and definite ageing potential. (10/01/2024, cellar, drink +30)

Bottled in a special bottle, the 2021 Château Rieussec checks in as 91% Sémillon and 9% Sauvignon Blanc. It has a killer bouquet of orange marmalade, grilled peach, brioche, and minty herbs, with more spice and toasty notes emerging with time in the glass. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, yet gorgeously balanced with good acidity, it's a sensational Sauternes that deserves 4-5 years in the cellar and will evolve for two decades.

Playful bouquet, ripe mirabelle plum, quince jelly and linden blossom honey. On the finely structured palate with an oily texture, peppery extract and a dense body. In the aromatically long finish, English breakfast marmalade, lime oil and white mousse au chocolat. The new, more elegant style suits Sauternes well!

Kunz barrel sample 2022: creamy, restrained, broad bouquet, yellow peach, honey, vanilla. Dense, velvety, full palate with pronounced sweetness, light acidity, supple structure, and a creamy finish.

Creamy, restrained, broad bouquet, yellow peach, honey, vanilla. Dense, velvety, full palate with pronounced sweetness, light acidity, plush structure, creamy finish. 18/20 2029 - 2055

Excellent quality, vibrant gold colour, sharp citrus, pineapple, mango and lime-zest acidities, opulent and silk-strewn texture that tightens and grips through the finish, ending with a mint-leaf signoff. Accomplished and enjoyable, mouthwatering and tightrope-walking. Jean de Roquefeuil, technical director (now moved to DBR’s Languedoc estate, Aussières), and Ondine Sanfins, viticulturalist building a library of vines for massal selection. First year of organic conversion.

Exhilarating, it fills the nose with an intense, seductive metallic note that gradually becomes more delicate and floral. Tender on the palate, it shows discreet power and a complexity that unfolds over time, with notes of creamy Hunza apricots, gentle spices, and flowers.

Revealing a fruity, energetic bouquet, the 2021 Rieussec, a blend of 91% Sémillon and 9% Sauvignon Blanc, is a great performance in Sauternes. Medium to full-bodied, supple and enveloping, it’s perfectly balanced with a fleshy core of fruit and a mineral, saline finish.