France Bordeaux Sauternes sweet Château Rieussec

Château Rieussec - Carmes de Rieussec - Sauternes

91 points - The Wine Advocate
90 points - The Wine Advocate
Rieussec - Carmes de Rieussec - Sauternes - 2008 - 75cl - Onshore Cellars
France Bordeaux Sauternes sweet Château Rieussec

Château Rieussec - Carmes de Rieussec - Sauternes

91 points - The Wine Advocate
90 points - The Wine Advocate
Vintage
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Pale lemon in color, the 2016 Carmes de Rieussec features notes of candied orange peel and honey-drizzled peaches with touches of beeswax and lemon curd. The palate is rich with a lovely line of freshness cutting though the stone fruit layers, finishing on a spicy note.
The 2008 Rieussec is a blend of 86% Semillon, 12% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Muscadelle picked from 29 September until 14 November over four or five pickings. The nose seemed to have closed since I last encountered it in 2012, quite earthy and resinous, lacking some spark. The palate is much better with sour lemon and quince on the entry, a touch of patisserie, strangely making me think of Danish pastry towards the well-defined finish. This 2008 is a little difficult to work out now, perhaps overwhelmed by the succeeding vintage.
Type:
 Sweet
Country:
 France
Region:
 Bordeaux
Appellation:
 Sauternes
Producer:
 Château Rieussec
Grapes/Blend:
 Muscadelle, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc

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Behind the bottle

Château Rieussec

Château Rieussec

Château Rieussec is one of the biggest estates in Sauternes-Barsac, covering 93 hectares of gravelly sandy-clay soils. The property used to belong to the Carmelite monks but was...

Château Rieussec is one of the biggest estates in Sauternes-Barsac, covering 93 hectares of gravelly sandy-clay soils. The property used to belong to the Carmelite monks but was confiscated during the French Revolution and put up for sale in the 1970s at which time it was purchased by the owner of Château La Louvière. The Domaine changed hands many times until 1984 when it was purchased by Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite). 

Since then, new systems have been put in place to facilitate meticulous selection of the grapes to make the Grand Vin. In 1989 investements were made in a new barrel room that allowed them to extend the ageing period of their wines. The latest renovation of the domaine took place in 2000 when a new fermentation room was built and the pressing areas were also modernised.

“The wines of Sauternes are so wonderful that we wanted to have our own, and Rieussec’s vineyard is outstanding. 

Baron Eric de Rothschild

Sauternes

The best sweet appellations in Bordeaux are located on the banks of the Garonne River and its tributary the Ciron. Sauternes lies on the west bank of the Garonne, where there are perfect conditions for Botrytis cinerea (widely known as “noble rot”) to develop on fully ripened grapes. This fungus dries out the grapes, resulting in concentrated and distinctively flavoured wines. The grape varieties used in Sauternes are Sémillon, which is very susceptible to botrytis, Sauvignon Blanc, which adds refreshing acidity and Muscadelle, known for its exotic character aromas. The level of noble rot varies from year to year, for that reason, sometimes is necessary to do ‘Passerillage’ in vintages where there is little noble root in the grapes.

Château Rieussec
Bordeaux - Onshore Cellars

Bordeaux
Bordeaux, in the southwest of France, needs little introduction as one of the world's most famous, prestigious and prolific wine regions. The majority of Bordeaux wines (nearly 90...
Bordeaux, in the southwest of France, needs little introduction as one of the world's most famous, prestigious and prolific wine regions. The majority of Bordeaux wines (nearly 90 percent of production volume) are the dry, medium- and full-bodied red Bordeaux Blends that established its reputation.

The finest (and most expensive) of these are the wines from the great châteaux of the Haut-Médoc and the Right Bank appellations Saint-Émilion and Pomerol. The former is focused (at the top level) on Cabernet Sauvignon, the latter pair on on Merlot.

The legendary reds are complemented by high-quality white wines based on Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. These range from dry whites to challenge the best from the Burgundy region (Pessac-Léognan is particularly renowned) to the sweet, botrytized nectars of Sauternes.
Explore Bordeaux
Our collection of Sauternes - Find this at Onshore Cellars your yacht wine supplier

Sauternes

Sauternes is a wine appellation located in the Graves region of Bordeaux, France. The history of Sauternes dates back to the 17th century when the Dutch drained the...

Sauternes is a wine appellation located in the Graves region of Bordeaux, France. The history of Sauternes dates back to the 17th century when the Dutch drained the marshes and created a unique microclimate that allowed for the production of sweet wines. The appellation covers five communes: Sauternes, Barsac, Bommes, Fargues, and Preignac.

The style of production in Sauternes is unique and labor-intensive. The grapes are left on the vine until they are affected by Botrytis cinerea, also known as noble rot. This fungus causes the grapes to shrivel and concentrate the sugars, resulting in a sweet and complex wine. The grapes are harvested by hand in several passes, selecting only the grapes that have been affected by noble rot. This process can take up to six weeks and requires perfect weather conditions.

The main grape variety grown in Sauternes is Semillon, which accounts for around 80% of the plantings. Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle are also grown, but in smaller quantities. Semillon is a thin-skinned grape that is susceptible to noble rot, making it ideal for the production of sweet wines. Sauvignon Blanc adds acidity and freshness to the blend, while Muscadelle contributes floral and fruity aromas.

The typical wines from Sauternes are sweet, complex, and age-worthy. They have a golden color and aromas of honey, apricot, and orange peel. On the palate, they are rich and full-bodied, with flavors of dried fruit, caramel, and spice. The sweetness is balanced by a refreshing acidity, which gives the wine a long and elegant finish.

The most famous producer in Sauternes is Chateau d'Yquem, which has been producing wine since the 18th century. Their wines are considered some of the best in the world and are highly sought after by collectors. Other notable producers include Chateau Suduiraut, Chateau Coutet, and Chateau Rieussec.

In conclusion, Sauternes is a unique and prestigious wine appellation that produces some of the world's finest sweet wines. The labor-intensive production process and the unique microclimate make these wines rare and expensive. Semillon is the main grape variety grown, and the wines are characterized by their sweetness, complexity, and age-worthiness. Chateau d'Yquem is the most famous producer in the region, but there are many other excellent producers to discover.

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