| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Sauternes and Barsac |
| Colour | Sweet White |
| Type | Still |
Rieussec is one of the most famous names of Sauternes and is under the same ownership and management as Chateau Lafite. The vineyard is mainly planted with Semillon and a smaller proportion of Sauvignon Blanc.
The 2018 Rieussec does come across a little oaky on the nose, although that is always the case here. Underneath lies plenty of honeyed fruit and touches of lemon curd, almond and apricot. The palate is well balanced, offering very pure honeyed fruit laced with vanilla, almond and hints of nougat, and more apricot and peach toward the finish. This will be a very seductive Rieussec, but afford it 4–5 years to fully assimilate the oak. 2025 - 2050
Very clean and fresh with banana, pineapple and papaya character and hints of honey. Medium-to full-bodied, sweet and crisp. Lively finish. Jasmine and acacia with hints of spice. Slightly crisper style. More sauvignon than normal.
Composed of 75% Sémillon and 25% Sauvignon Blanc, the pale lemon-gold colored 2018 Rieussec slowly unfurls to offer fragrant orange blossoms, honeycomb and candied ginger scents with a core of lemon marmalade, baked pears and spice cake, plus a hint of preserved citrus peel. The palate is light on its feet with zippy freshness lifting the well-knit sweetness, finishing long with a skip in its step. If not a truly profound vintage for this label, it is a beautifully elegant and bright expression. 2023 - 2043
This takes a minute to lift out of the glass, with a focus on texture more than aromatics, but it’s highly attractive with a luscious, gorgeous texture and flavours that are concentrated but elegant and fine, showing touches of mandarin, saffron and spice alongside a creamy citrus mid-palate. The harvest took place between 10 and 31 October, later than last year - the day they finished in 2017 was the day they started in 2018. A yield of 17hl/ha.
Drinking Window 2022 - 2042
Gorgeous ripe aroma of pineapple and ripe lemon, and apricot. Sweet, luscious and full of that lovely almond bitterness of botrytised wines. Full in the mouth, generous, long and fresh with a fine almond-paste bitterness at the end. Long. 14.4%
Drink 2025-2040
(75 Semillon, 25 Sauvignon Blanc) This is a robust, mouth-coating Rieussec and it hasn’t got the orange peel notes which one normally feels on this wine. Instead the notes are more along the citrus spectrum but there is weight and gravitas here and I have no doubt it will age well, but it will not be a heavyweight.
The 2018 Rieussec was picked from 10 to 31 October in two or three tries through the vineyard. This contains one of the highest percentages of Sauvignon Blanc (25%). It does not possess the same intensity as the previous vintage, a little compact and perhaps more floral in style, yellow flowers mixed with acacia honey and saffron. The palate is medium-bodied with notes of apricot, quince and light spicy aromas with good acidity. It is well balanced and fresh, although it does not have the weight and complexity of the 2017, ergo I suspect this will be earlier drinking. 2022 - 2040
