Château Rieussec - R de Rieussec Blanc 2021

Owned by Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite since 1984, Rieussec is located in the heart of the Sauternes vineyards. Surrounded by water and nature, the property, with its simple and rigorous architecture, stands out for its free contours.

Its unique terroir, combined with the know-how and exemplary viticulture applied by its team, enable it to produce precise, quality wines.

Rieussec is one of the most important vineyards of this appellation. It extends over 85 hectares at the junction of Fargues and Sauternes, adjacent to Château d’Yquem. Its sandy gravel (80%) and clay (20%) soils have been coveted by many owners since its creation. Varietals : Sauvignon blanc 59%, Sémillon 41%.

Large part of the Sémillon musts was vinified in new oak barrels and barrels that had held one wine. The Sauvignon musts were mainly vinified in stainless steel tanks at low temperature and a smaller quantity in barrels that had held one wine. At the end of the fermentation process, the wines in barrels were aged on the lees for six months with regular stirring. After aging, the wines in stainless steel vats (50%) and in barrels (50%) were blended prior to bottling.

Expressive, complex nose, underscored by a lovely freshness, characteristic of this 2021 vintage. Some notes of tropical fruit in the initial nose, predominantly passion fruit, followed by floral notes with a hint of aniseed, suggesting fennel and tarragon. The wine’s minerality and concentration are already apparent in the nose. On the palate, the attack is round and full, with subtle notes of fresh butter. This is followed by superb notes of freshly cut wood which contribute to the wine’s concentration and purity. A sensation of minerality underscores the entire palate, with warm notes of flint, reminiscent of summer walks on the pebbles at Etretat beach. The finish is concentrated and long, balanced by a pleasant hint of bitterness.

"Reimagined in a more vibrant style, in a Burgundy/Loire bottle, the 2021 R de Rieussec exhibits scents of citrus oil, gooseberry and botanicals, followed by a medium-bodied, bright and vibrant palate, with tangy acids and a nicely defined finish. It's an attractive middleweight that avoids the pungently varietal, heavily sulfitic caricatural style so prevalent in contemporary Bordeaux, while managing to reinvent what was historically a rather richer, more fruit-driven wine." - 90 Points, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Producer: Château Rieussec

Country: France

Region: Bordeaux

Varietal: Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc

Appellation: Bordeaux

Vintage: 2021

Size: 750ml