Chateau Rieussec Sauternes 1er Grand Cru Classe 2013

Château Rieussec has held its 1er Grand Cru Classé status since 1855 and remains one of Sauternes’ great benchmark estates, renowned for producing opulent, honey-laden, long-lived sweet wines of exceptional purity and refinement.

The aroma is rich yet beautifully composed: notes of orange peel, dried apricot, honey, and fresh peach unfold first, followed by pineapple, acacia blossom, and lemon flower. With air, the wine reveals shades of musk, ginger, balsamic spices, and a subtle botrytis-driven smoky–spicy nuance.

On the palate, the wine is velvety, concentrated, but never heavy. Its sweetness is seamlessly integrated and lifted by a vibrant, lively acidity that gives the wine tension and noble balance. Flavours of lemon cream, honey, preserved apricot, and tropical fruit dominate before transitioning into a delicate saline–limestone note that adds freshness. The finish is long, warm, elegantly dry, echoing dried fruit, botrytis spice, and white herbal hints.

Château Rieussec’s character is shaped by its gravel and sandy terraces over a limestone base—a terroir that naturally limits yields and concentrates fruit while imparting mineral tension. The Sauternes microclimate—created where the Ciron and Garonne rivers meet—produces morning mists and sunny afternoons, the ideal environment for botrytis cinerea to develop.

Harvest is carried out in several meticulous passes, selecting only berries optimally touched by noble rot. Fermentation takes place in small vessels, often using natural yeasts. The wine is then matured for 18–24 months in French oak barrels, typically 50–60% new, which enhances complexity without overwhelming the fruit.

Serve at 10–12 °C; pairs well with foie gras, blue cheese, and orange or almond desserts.