R de Rieussec 2020

Situated at the highest point of the villages of Fargues and Sauternes, Château Rieussec –which neighbours Château Yquem – is home to an unbroken stretch of vineyard with a soil of clay and pebbles or clay and sand. In the 18th century, the estate belonged to the Carmelite monks of Langon. In 1855, it was classified as a premier cru. Later, in 1984, Baron Eric de Rothschild (Lafite, Duhart-Milon) acquired this Sauternes premier cru classé. In 1989, a new wine cellar was built on the estate, enabling extended ageing of the wines (from 16 to 26 months). The harvest is done in several passages to ensure optimal ripeness, and the estate has no qualms about not producing any wine if the vintage is not up to standard.
The reputation of Château Rieussec is commensurate with the exceptional quality of its wines. Its deep golden coloured Sauternes are complex, powerful and concentrated, ranking amongst the richest and most opulent in the AOC. The wines have constantly improved over time, establishing themselves as some of the appellation’s finest. The château’s second wine is called Les Carmes de Rieussec, and a dry white wine, called R de Rieussec, is also produced on the estate under the Bordeaux appellation.

R de Rieussec is produced at the château. Since this is a dry wine, it does not qualify for the Sauternes appellation. Incidentally, the making of dry wines has been the subject of lively debate in the region. It is regarded by some as a threat and by others as an opportunity. R de Rieussec comprises mostly Sémillon (60%), together with Sauvignon. The nose is superb, highly aromatic on exotic fruits (mango and papaya) and citrus fruits. On the palate it is superb, rich and fresh.