Château Rieussec
Sauternes Sémillon-Sauvignon Blanc Blend
Sauternes, Graves, Bordeaux, France
Today was my annual hosting of the Wednesday Wine Committee. There was 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert, all provided by me. Tasted blind, as always.
Birth year Sauternes. Drinking just like you’d expect a 31yr old Sauternes to be drinking, and maybe even slightly younger. Basically perfect provenance, the color has really darkened over the last 2-3yrs. Amber in the glass and molasses like up front. This checks all the boxes for Classic Sauternes. Honeyed sweet fruits with ripened pineapple, golden peach and nectarine with a touch of savory/nutty notes on the finish. Very lengthy finish with tons of complexity and life left. Wish I had another 1-2 bottles!
Today was my annual hosting of the Wednesday Wine Committee. There was 1 sparkler, 3 whites, 4 reds and 1 dessert, all provided by me. Tasted blind, as always.
Birth year Sauternes. Drinking just like you’d expect a 31yr old Sauternes to be drinking, and maybe even slightly younger. Basically perfect provenance, the color has really darkened over the last 2-3yrs. Amber in the glass and molasses like up front. This checks all the boxes for Classic Sauternes. Honeyed sweet fruits with ripened pineapple, golden peach and nectarine with a touch of savory/nutty notes on the finish. Very lengthy finish with tons of complexity and life left. Wish I had another 1-2 bottles!
Initially reticent and needing 30 minutes of air to fully express itself aromatically, the 2006 Chateau Rieussec opens with a lighter bouquet of butterscotch, buttered popcorn, mango and ginger undertones. The palate shows really good freshness and intensity with a good sense of minerality. Pineapple creme brulee, poached pear, bananas foster and nutmeg flavors complete this beautiful wine. The exceedingly long, finish lingers and rounds out this complete wine. What this doesn’t possess on the nose, exceeds expectations on the palate and finish, as this elegant wine is one of the great wines of this vintage. Enjoy this wonderful wine over the next two decades. Drink 2019-2035- 94
Initially reticent and needing 30 minutes of air to fully express itself aromatically, the 2006 Chateau Rieussec opens with a lighter bouquet of butterscotch, buttered popcorn, mango and ginger undertones. The palate shows really good freshness and intensity with a good sense of minerality. Pineapple creme brulee, poached pear, bananas foster and nutmeg flavors complete this beautiful wine. The exceedingly long, finish lingers and rounds out this complete wine. What this doesn’t possess on the nose, exceeds expectations on the palate and finish, as this elegant wine is one of the great wines of this vintage. Enjoy this wonderful wine over the next two decades. Drink 2019-2035- 94
Apr 12th, 2019
Dessert last night was a layered, guava, mango, raspberry, passion fruit cheesecake. I did a dual pair with 14 Kobalt Sauvignon Blanc and this 83 Rieussec Sauternes. The 83 won hands down.
Look at that color! 👀 The older they are, the darker they get. I’ve seen one nearly black, a 1928 D'yquem a number of years back. A good producer/vintage of Sauternes will out live almost anyone’s life span properly stored. This 35 year old 375ml was no exception to that rule.
The nose reveals; brown sugar, molasses, dried; pineapple, apricots, peaches, nectarines, orange citrus, touch of light colored citrus’s, marmalade, mixed nuts with skin, toffee, caramel, tea notes, soft limestone minerals, gravel with pebbles and dark withering flowers/lilies.
The body is full, rich and gorgeous. The palate is nicely integrated and complex. The fruits are a combination of candies and dried. Brown sugar, raw sugar cane, molasses, dried; pineapple, apricots, peaches, nectarines, mango, prunes & dates. Candied, lemon, lime & grapefruit. Orange citrus, marmalade, honeycomb, mixed nuts with skin, toffee, caramel, Lipton tea notes, soft limestone minerals, gravel with pebbles and dark withering flowers, yellow & orange lilies. The acidity is like a rain shower and the elegant, rich, well balanced and polished finish lingers on your palate and dances mentally in your brain. There is also granulated sugar on the palate. Huge RS!
Producer notes...Rieussec is aged in an average of 50% new, French oak barrels for 18 to 24 months, depending on the character of the vintage. Chateau Rieussec is owned by the Lafite side of the Rothschild family and all their used oak barrels come from Chateau Lafite.
Photos of; Chateau Rieussec, grapes awaiting the onset of botrytis, their roughly 25-30 year Estate vines and their barrel room.
Dessert last night was a layered, guava, mango, raspberry, passion fruit cheesecake. I did a dual pair with 14 Kobalt Sauvignon Blanc and this 83 Rieussec Sauternes. The 83 won hands down.
Look at that color! 👀 The older they are, the darker they get. I’ve seen one nearly black, a 1928 D'yquem a number of years back. A good producer/vintage of Sauternes will out live almost anyone’s life span properly stored. This 35 year old 375ml was no exception to that rule.
The nose reveals; brown sugar, molasses, dried; pineapple, apricots, peaches, nectarines, orange citrus, touch of light colored citrus’s, marmalade, mixed nuts with skin, toffee, caramel, tea notes, soft limestone minerals, gravel with pebbles and dark withering flowers/lilies.
The body is full, rich and gorgeous. The palate is nicely integrated and complex. The fruits are a combination of candies and dried. Brown sugar, raw sugar cane, molasses, dried; pineapple, apricots, peaches, nectarines, mango, prunes & dates. Candied, lemon, lime & grapefruit. Orange citrus, marmalade, honeycomb, mixed nuts with skin, toffee, caramel, Lipton tea notes, soft limestone minerals, gravel with pebbles and dark withering flowers, yellow & orange lilies. The acidity is like a rain shower and the elegant, rich, well balanced and polished finish lingers on your palate and dances mentally in your brain. There is also granulated sugar on the palate. Huge RS!
Producer notes...Rieussec is aged in an average of 50% new, French oak barrels for 18 to 24 months, depending on the character of the vintage. Chateau Rieussec is owned by the Lafite side of the Rothschild family and all their used oak barrels come from Chateau Lafite.
Photos of; Chateau Rieussec, grapes awaiting the onset of botrytis, their roughly 25-30 year Estate vines and their barrel room.
Racy honeycomb. Apricot-y acidity. Orange blossom water that is saline and refreshing and sweet and just the thing you want to wash down biscuits with butter and cherry preserves. Dinner of champions for two.
Racy honeycomb. Apricot-y acidity. Orange blossom water that is saline and refreshing and sweet and just the thing you want to wash down biscuits with butter and cherry preserves. Dinner of champions for two.
Jan 24th, 2019
39 years old, tertiary town, mushrooms, wax, lots of bottle bouquet, good with dessert!
39 years old, tertiary town, mushrooms, wax, lots of bottle bouquet, good with dessert!
Dec 16th, 2018
Deep and intense. Brooding and stunning, intense with honey, sweet oak, but enough acidity to keep everything dancing along. Yum
Deep and intense. Brooding and stunning, intense with honey, sweet oak, but enough acidity to keep everything dancing along. Yum
Dec 3rd, 2018
The cork was blackened and a bit raised, so I was anticipating the worst. This was the first true test for the Durand and I was amazed how it got the cork out whole. The wine had held up remarkably well. Dried apricot, touch of nuttiness, brotrytis, and still solid acidity. Finish was a touch short but otherwise excellent. Shared generously by a friend.
The cork was blackened and a bit raised, so I was anticipating the worst. This was the first true test for the Durand and I was amazed how it got the cork out whole. The wine had held up remarkably well. Dried apricot, touch of nuttiness, brotrytis, and still solid acidity. Finish was a touch short but otherwise excellent. Shared generously by a friend.
Nov 10th, 2018
An astounding sticky, nose of candied melon. Liquid pear and peach extract delivered on clouds framed by whispers of lemon and lime zest. Among the best Sauternes I’ve had, and the stuffing to improve for at least 10 years. Thanks, John @tavernsquare, brilliant as ever!
An astounding sticky, nose of candied melon. Liquid pear and peach extract delivered on clouds framed by whispers of lemon and lime zest. Among the best Sauternes I’ve had, and the stuffing to improve for at least 10 years. Thanks, John @tavernsquare, brilliant as ever!
Sep 12th, 2018
Boom. Liquid gold. Just so pretty. Unctuous, golden apricots, spicy botrytis.
Boom. Liquid gold. Just so pretty. Unctuous, golden apricots, spicy botrytis.
Jun 18th, 2018