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Rieussec 2017

RegionBordeaux
Subregion France > Bordeaux > Sauternes and Barsac
ColourSweet White
TypeStill
Grape VarietySauvignon Blanc/Semillon

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.

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Label

Tasting Notes

A blend of 83% Semillon and 17% Sauvignon Blanc, the 2017 Rieussec is pale to medium lemon-gold colored. To begin, the nose blows you away with intense lemon tart, lime cordial, mango and quince notes followed by a second wave of floral, orange blossoms and honeysuckle scents, and then notes of crushed rocks, crème caramel and marzipan join the party. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is still very tightly wound with concentrated sweetness and a racy backbone to match, delivering layer upon layer of citrus and savory flavors, finishing on a persistent mineral note.
2023 - 2057

97
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (March 2020), March 2020

The 2017 Rieussec was affected by the frost, losing around 15% of the production although, it was more located in parcels that are designated for the dry white R de Rieussec. Eric Kohler told me that it was a relatively rapid picking. It has around 125gm/L residual sugar. It has a clean but slightly distant bouquet, does not really exude the richness that you expect from Sauternes. The palate is medium-bodied and more promising than the nose: a viscous opening, quite spicy and slightly Auslese in style. The acidity is well balanced and it becomes increasingly lively towards the lychee and fennel-tinged finish, as if compensating for the nose. Drink 2022-2048.

92/94
Neal Martin, vinous.com, May 2018

Inspirational depth with botrytis spice, toffee, dried-apricot and sponge-cake character. Full-bodied, very sweet and lively with a long, endless finish. Lively acidity balances the wine. Tight and linear. Compact column of fruit and botrytis. Give it age. Better after 2026.

98
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, January 2020

This is an effortless Rieussec that's elegant and harmonious, displaying a wonderful quickening through the mid-palate compounded by a confident and energetic uplift on the finish. It has an excellent silky texture, and although the acidity and sweetness play off against each other, they could go a little higher. They were 15% affected by frost here, but only on plots used for their second wine and dry white wine.
Drinking Window 2020 - 2040

94
Jane Anson, Decanter.com, April 2018

83% Semillon with 17% Sauvignon Blanc. Picked 26th September to 12th October. Bright lemon colour, with a rich and sweet, enticing nose of honey, vanilla and brioche. The palate is thick and viscous, with great concentration, weight and drive of honeyed fruit. There is good acidity here, and a touch of earthy complexity from botrytis. The sweet spices on the palate make for exotic and tropical mango, pineapple, clove and cinnamon flavours that linger on the long finish.

93+
Farr Vintners, April 2018

The nose has a rich mix of flavours the palate has depth the ripe apricots backed by candied orange peel honeyed and rich in the middle. An attractive balance tangerine freshness lies under the sweet fruit the finish has a touch of savoury botrytis. Drink 2025-2040.

90/94
Derek Smedley MW, DerekSmedleyMW.co.uk, May 2018

Incredibly stylish, full-bodied and loaded with burnt orange notes, this is an amazingly detailed wine and one of the finest vintages of Rieussec in recent years.

19+
Matthew Jukes, Matthew Jukes' Blog, April 2018
Read more tasting notes...

This is very focused and an intense with so much spice and dried lemon character with cloves and dry mushroom too. Full body and very sweet yet finishes dry and spice. Harmonious and great.

97/98
James Suckling, JamesSuckling.com, April 2018

Blended of 83% Sémillon and 17% Sauvignon Blanc, the 2017 Rieussec gives up beautiful notes of orange marmalade, beeswax, acacia honey and yuzu with touches of lemon tart, grapefruit pastilles and musk perfume. The palate is full, rich and unctuous with incredible layers of citrus and honeyed fruits, finishing very long and perfumed.

96/98
Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, Wine Advocate (236), April 2018
Please note that these tasting notes/scores are not intended to be exhaustive and in some cases they may not be the most recently published figures. However, we always do our best to add latest scores and reviews when these come to our attention. We advise customers who wish to purchase wines based simply on critical reviews to carry out further research into the latest reports.