Freddy R. Troya

9.0

Château Rieussec — R de Rieussec 2020
Bordeaux AOC, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A seriously over-delivering dry white from Château Rieussec, the celebrated Sauternes estate of Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite. The 2020 is 57% Sauvignon Blanc and 43% Sémillon, combining Sauvignon’s freshness and energy with the texture and richness of Sémillon.

Aromas & Flavors
Passion fruit, citrus, grapefruit, ripe peach, and tropical fruit lead into subtle smoky and mineral nuances. Expressive and succulent without losing its Bordeaux identity.

Mouthfeel
Smooth and beautifully balanced, with enough volume from the Sémillon to give the wine substance while Sauvignon Blanc provides a sharp, refreshing backbone. Generous through the mid-palate, yet precise and lively through the finish.

Food Pairings
Oysters, grilled shrimp, scallops, crab, white fish, or seafood pasta. Equally enjoyable on its own.

Verdict
A hidden gem that punches considerably above its weight. Fresh, layered, succulent, and remarkably approachable, yet with enough structure and complexity to reveal its serious Bordeaux pedigree. One glass becomes two remarkably easily.

Did You Know?
Although 2020 may not be a headline vintage for white Bordeaux, R de Rieussec was a successful individual performer. The year was unusually warm and early, but Rieussec’s limestone-marl soils handled the dry summer well, with Sauvignon Blanc harvested exceptionally early in August to retain freshness.

🍷 Personal Pick
It took me a while to find other favorable vintages of this white, and I wasn’t sure 2020 would deliver, but I gave it a shot—and I’m glad I did. Succulent tropical fruit, beautiful balance, precision, and a sharp refreshing finish. Affordable enough to open casually, yet sophisticated enough to make you pay attention. Standalone or with seafood, this is exactly the kind of overlooked Bordeaux Blanc I love discovering. — 8 days ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.2

vintage 2019 | Minerality with a hazelnut touch, good structure, nice acidity. I consequently rate this wine high (tasted blind) — 4 months ago

Ming L

9.0

Aromas of kirsch, dried cherry, old wood, leather, and warm spice lead into a broad, supple palate. The fruit is ripe and generous, with earthy undertones and hints of black olive and dried herbs. Structure comes more from fine tannins than visible acidity, giving a smooth, gently weighted flow rather than lift. The finish is savory and persistent, marked by a candied touch.

A nice traditional CdP, but it does not show the fruit purity and freshness that’s one of the hallmark of the great 16’ vintage. — 4 months ago

Matt Perlman

9.4

Always an excellent buy and always hard to resist opening young. Typical chenin nose of flint, ripe apple and wet wool, juicy and piquant on the palate, fruit forward with the stuffing to develop for eons — 6 months ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.5

Outstanding — 8 months ago

Ericsson

9.3

Arguably the best producer of dry Chenin Blanc. These wines can age for decades. WSET3 London. — 10 months ago

Ted

9.2

A little waxy like those little bottles filled with sugar water I devoured as a kid. Lemon. — 22 days ago

Freddy R. Troya

9.1

Clos des Lunes "Lune d'Argent" 2024. Bordeaux Blanc – Bordeaux, France 🇫🇷

Overview
A classic Bordeaux Blanc crafted from 70% Sémillon and 30% Sauvignon Blanc, produced by Clos des Lunes, the white wine estate of the Bernard family (SC Domaine de Chevalier) in one of Bordeaux's finest white wine terroirs. While still in its youth, the 2024 vintage already reveals exceptional balance, precision, and elegance. Its beautifully integrated texture hints at an even brighter future with a few years of bottle age.

Aromas & Flavors
Expressive aromas of white peach, ripe citrus, honeysuckle, lemon blossom, and fresh herbs unfold alongside subtle notes of wet stone and flint. The palate is layered yet remarkably refined, where the richness of Sémillon meets the freshness and lift of Sauvignon Blanc.

Mouthfeel
Medium-bodied with a silky, almost creamy texture balanced by vibrant acidity. Despite its youthful structure, the edges are already remarkably soft, leading to a long, mineral-driven finish that lingers with freshness rather than weight.

Food Pairings
A natural companion for oysters, scallops, lobster, grilled prawns, sea bass, Dover sole, or creamy goat cheese. Its precision and elegance make it an outstanding seafood wine.

Verdict
Another outstanding vintage that continues the remarkable consistency of Clos des Lunes. The 2024 is tighter than the 2023 but noticeably more polished, combining youthful energy with impressive finesse. Delicious today, yet clearly built to reward three to six years of cellaring.

Did You Know?
Clos des Lunes is owned by the Bernard family, also proprietors of the prestigious Domaine de Chevalier in Pessac-Léognan. Although produced under the Bordeaux Blanc appellation, the estate applies many of the same meticulous vineyard and cellar practices that have made Domaine de Chevalier one of Bordeaux's benchmark producers of dry white wine.

🍷 Personal Pick
This has quietly become one of the cornerstone whites in my cellar. I've followed several vintages, and each one seems to refine the style even further. The 2024 impressed me with its precision, softer edges, and seamless balance despite its youth. It's one of those bottles I never hesitate to recommend, beautiful now with seafood, but patient enthusiast will be rewarded with even greater complexity in a few years.
— 2 months ago

Dave

9.0

Sweet and easy. Honey, pear, and definitely more minerality than 2022. Nice with a few bites of goat cheese.
Listening to REM — 5 months ago

Steve Medbery

9.6

Cherry, cinnamon, rose petal. Smooth in its transitions. Great wine! — 7 months ago

Sergio L Figueiredo

9.4

Álcool 12,0%. — 8 months ago

Jeff Ames

Owner/Winemaker Rudius Wines

9.3

Pretty remarkable. I’ve never been able to try an old one of these before, but I’ve always understood. They aged like champs and this thing was crazy. It tasted and looked like it could’ve been bottled last week. If you have any that have been well stored there’s absolutely no rush.  — 10 months ago

Marco Ambrosio

9.1

Who knew Hungary had dry white wines?! An adventurous bold choice by Maia that paid dividends on a hot summer day at 306. Mineral. Dry. Light. Smooth. Delicious. — a month ago

Jeremy Pollard

9.3

Still catching up from two weeks ago. Well wasn’t this quite the joy! Slightly shy upon opening, with more red fruit on the palate. Developed considerably in the glass and bottle, filling out with black fruit and a tight, beautiful tannin core. Seems in a great place right now but with years ahead of it. — 19 days ago

Benjamin Hickey

9.3

Yum. Everything comes to together — 3 months ago

Jeremy Shanker

Sommelier at RN74

9.1

Steal of a value in the world of Oregon PN — 4 months ago

Lindsay Sher

9.1

Delicious. Lush, supple honeysuckle. Tasted at Camino Spring showcase — 5 months ago

Mark S.

8.9

Lemon yellow with green. Clear herbaceous+ chalk minerals citrus. Woody. Creamy. Later on it is getting rich from Semillon. Fruitiness M Sweetness M Acidity M++ Bitterness M+ Body M Finish M 13.5% Fresh Dry Château Doisy-Daëne Bordeaux Sec Semillon Sauvignon Blanc 18 @6300, AD, 260226 — 7 months ago

James Everhart

9.1

2020 vintage Drinking well in December 2025. The minimal oak was not bothersome. $40  — 8 months ago

edward Simpson

9.1

New one for me a dessert wine caramel and passion fruit, smooth much better than standard dessert wines that no longer innovate — 10 months ago