Château Rieussec
R Bordeaux Blanc Sec Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend
Bordeaux, France
Blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, pale lemon-green color with pronounce aromas of tropical and stone fruits with herb and oak notes. On the palate flavors of melon, apple and grapefruit with peppers and a touch of herbs. Medium+ length, balanced lively acidity, ending with a fruit and smoky mineral character. Very good to drink now, will benefit from S-T bottle aging.
Blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, pale lemon-green color with pronounce aromas of tropical and stone fruits with herb and oak notes. On the palate flavors of melon, apple and grapefruit with peppers and a touch of herbs. Medium+ length, balanced lively acidity, ending with a fruit and smoky mineral character. Very good to drink now, will benefit from S-T bottle aging.
Jan 7th, 2023
New year's eve cocktail wine with charcuterie and cheeses.
Pale yellow w green rim. Nose of pale or hard fruits as apples/pears, hint of yellow tones, floral pollen, fennel sweetness. On the palate richly textured but just med+ body. This has the mouth feel of something serious. These subtly scented wines w viscosity seem nearly ageless to me and this can definitely take more time.
New year's eve cocktail wine with charcuterie and cheeses.
Pale yellow w green rim. Nose of pale or hard fruits as apples/pears, hint of yellow tones, floral pollen, fennel sweetness. On the palate richly textured but just med+ body. This has the mouth feel of something serious. These subtly scented wines w viscosity seem nearly ageless to me and this can definitely take more time.
Star bright pale straw gold. Abundant and inviting nose of lemon rind and stony white peach. On the medium light palate, tart lemon pith, white pepper, underripe white peach, and cement block. Bracing (medium plus) acidity from entry to short-ish finish. An excellent example of the brighter, more modern style of Bordeaux Blanc Sec that’s ready for seafood, salads, broiled fowl, and lighter white wine fare. No need to hold it. Drink now through 2024.
Star bright pale straw gold. Abundant and inviting nose of lemon rind and stony white peach. On the medium light palate, tart lemon pith, white pepper, underripe white peach, and cement block. Bracing (medium plus) acidity from entry to short-ish finish. An excellent example of the brighter, more modern style of Bordeaux Blanc Sec that’s ready for seafood, salads, broiled fowl, and lighter white wine fare. No need to hold it. Drink now through 2024.
Sep 27th, 2021
Masterclass with Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite in San Francisco. Rieussec is another property that the Rothschild’s own.
The nose shows; meyer lemon, green apple, white peach, apricots, tropical melons, ripe pineapple, beeswax, lanolin, green notes, soft chalky minerals, wet stone with spring flowers and yellow lilies.
The body is full, thick and a little waxy. There is some pronounced white spice as it sets. Meyer lemon, green apple, white peach, apricots, tropical melons, ripe pineapple, beeswax, lanolin, vanillin notes, green notes, hint of bay leaf, crisp grainy minerals, wet stone with spring flowers and yellow lilies. The acidity is round & beautiful. The well polished finish is; elegant, lush and persists for minutes. Nice White Bordeaux but, needs a few more years in bottle to show more.
All wines arrived weeks ago directly from the Chateau.
Photos of; the intro slide to Saskia presentation, the Crown Room on the 23rd floor of the Fairmont where the Masterclass was held, the group having this Bordeaux before we started and one of the amazing San Francisco Bay views from the top of the Fairmont. Rieussec is another property the Rothschild’s own.
Masterclass with Saskia De Rothschild, Chairwoman DBR Lafite in San Francisco. Rieussec is another property that the Rothschild’s own.
The nose shows; meyer lemon, green apple, white peach, apricots, tropical melons, ripe pineapple, beeswax, lanolin, green notes, soft chalky minerals, wet stone with spring flowers and yellow lilies.
The body is full, thick and a little waxy. There is some pronounced white spice as it sets. Meyer lemon, green apple, white peach, apricots, tropical melons, ripe pineapple, beeswax, lanolin, vanillin notes, green notes, hint of bay leaf, crisp grainy minerals, wet stone with spring flowers and yellow lilies. The acidity is round & beautiful. The well polished finish is; elegant, lush and persists for minutes. Nice White Bordeaux but, needs a few more years in bottle to show more.
All wines arrived weeks ago directly from the Chateau.
Photos of; the intro slide to Saskia presentation, the Crown Room on the 23rd floor of the Fairmont where the Masterclass was held, the group having this Bordeaux before we started and one of the amazing San Francisco Bay views from the top of the Fairmont. Rieussec is another property the Rothschild’s own.
Gorgeous silky floral aromatics with a bit of body sweat coming through. Sexy jasmine and vanilla notes from a small part in barrique. Like a Viognier cream soda. Appealing breadth and mouthfeel. Yum.
Gorgeous silky floral aromatics with a bit of body sweat coming through. Sexy jasmine and vanilla notes from a small part in barrique. Like a Viognier cream soda. Appealing breadth and mouthfeel. Yum.
Jun 1st, 2017Pale gold. Orange rind, lemon grass, wet rocks on the nose. Echoed on the palate with a medium finish of black quince (if that means anything). Medium acidity cloaked by a full mouthfeel. Great accompaniment to swordfish steaks or other savory meaty seafood.
Pale gold. Orange rind, lemon grass, wet rocks on the nose. Echoed on the palate with a medium finish of black quince (if that means anything). Medium acidity cloaked by a full mouthfeel. Great accompaniment to swordfish steaks or other savory meaty seafood.
Dec 1st, 2016
VERY simple wine but very well made the semillion give all is power. Great job
VERY simple wine but very well made the semillion give all is power. Great job
Rieussec is a name tied to world-class Sauternes. Domaine Barons de Rothschild's (nicknamed DBR) answer to Chateau d'Yquem. So what's up with this Bordeaux Blanc Sec?
Well, if it is made in Sauternes and less than 45 g/l residual sugar, then it defaults to Bordeaux Blanc Sec or Bordeaux Superior Blanc Sec.
There's a distinct splitting pomelo scent, withgolden apple, beeswax, chamomile, lemon curd, rehydrated mushrooms, black tea leaves, and dry grass. On the palate, there's definitely some barrel fermentation here, round mouth feel, mushrooms, mild raw nuttiness, bitter almonds, kind of a gin and tonic like botanical quality, with some quinine bringing it back in. Lime oil and green seed-chewy bitterness dominate the finish.
I would give this a 9.0 for educational purposes, and that it is pretty much exactly what a dry white from Sauternes should taste like. But wines need to be delicious, and this is a spectacular example of why Sauternes need sweetness, as there is very little balance of flavors here. It's all bitter phenolic, acidic and needless weight, with no sweetness to pull it back up. An interesting, downright intriguing wine, but after taking what you need of it with the first glass, I would not crave a second for pure enjoyment.
Rieussec is a name tied to world-class Sauternes. Domaine Barons de Rothschild's (nicknamed DBR) answer to Chateau d'Yquem. So what's up with this Bordeaux Blanc Sec?
Well, if it is made in Sauternes and less than 45 g/l residual sugar, then it defaults to Bordeaux Blanc Sec or Bordeaux Superior Blanc Sec.
There's a distinct splitting pomelo scent, withgolden apple, beeswax, chamomile, lemon curd, rehydrated mushrooms, black tea leaves, and dry grass. On the palate, there's definitely some barrel fermentation here, round mouth feel, mushrooms, mild raw nuttiness, bitter almonds, kind of a gin and tonic like botanical quality, with some quinine bringing it back in. Lime oil and green seed-chewy bitterness dominate the finish.
I would give this a 9.0 for educational purposes, and that it is pretty much exactly what a dry white from Sauternes should taste like. But wines need to be delicious, and this is a spectacular example of why Sauternes need sweetness, as there is very little balance of flavors here. It's all bitter phenolic, acidic and needless weight, with no sweetness to pull it back up. An interesting, downright intriguing wine, but after taking what you need of it with the first glass, I would not crave a second for pure enjoyment.
Young. Very taut. It should be great in a couple of years.
Young. Very taut. It should be great in a couple of years.
Nov 27th, 2014