2023 Chateau Rieussec Sauternes 375 ml

Regular price $59.98

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95 Vinous - The 2023 Rieussec is delicate and light on its feet. White flowers, apple tart, passion fruit and tropical citrus tones are nicely lifted. The 2023 is very much done in a modern style that prizes freshness and mid-weight structure over opulence. I find it quite delicate and very pretty, but also a work in progress.

The 2023 Château Rieussec is a luxurious but unusually energetic Sauternes—richly sweet, yet defined more by freshness and precision than heaviness.

A Premier Cru Classé owned by Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite, it is made from 89% Sémillon and 11% Sauvignon Blanc, with 147 g/L residual sugar and 14% alcohol. Fermentation and roughly 18 months of maturation take place in barrel.

Expect:

Apricot, pineapple, mango and candied citrus
Acacia, chamomile and honeyed floral notes
Lemon curd, marmalade, vanilla and subtle pastry-like oak
A creamy, concentrated middle balanced by vivid acidity
Blood-orange and grapefruit-peel bitterness, followed by a long, cool, slightly mentholated finish

The key impression is sweetness with tension: opulent enough to feel like serious Sauternes, but bright, mineral and comparatively light on its feet. Critics have particularly praised its precision and acidity, with published assessments around the mid-to-high 90s.

It should be approachable young for its exuberant fruit, especially from about 2027, but has the structure to evolve for several decades. With age, the fresh pineapple and citrus should move toward saffron, toasted nuts, caramel and dried apricot.

Serve at 10–12°C / 50–54°F. Excellent with foie gras, blue cheese, lobster or scallops, roast poultry, mildly spicy Southeast Asian dishes, or fruit desserts that are less sweet than the wine.

Nose - Complex and refined, the nose reveals aromas of apricot and fresh pineapple, accompanied by candied citrus zests. Delicate floral notes of chamomile and acacia complete this expressive bouquet.

Palate - On the palate, this wine seduces with its subtle balance between creamy texture and aromatic freshness. The finish stands out for its vivacity, revealing notes of bittersweet blood orange peel and an intense, persistent mentholated freshness.

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