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Sweet dry
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.
Château Rieussec is one of the most authoritative wine estates of the Sauternes appellation in the Bordeaux region, renowned for its exceptional sweet white wines. Since the 1855 Bordeaux Classification, the estate has held Premier Cru Classé status, confirming its long-standing tradition of quality and its importance among the finest Sauternes producers.
The style of Château Rieussec wines is based on the unique microclimate of Sauternes and the phenomenon known as noble rot (Botrytis cinerea). Due to the morning mists formed by the nearby Gironde River and warm daytime conditions, the grapes gradually lose moisture while their aromas and sugar concentration naturally intensify. This process gives the wines their characteristic complexity and remarkable longevity.
The estate’s vineyards cover approximately 90–98 hectares and are planted with the traditional Sauternes varieties: ‘Sémillon’, ‘Sauvignon Blanc’, and a small proportion of ‘Muscadelle’. This blend allows the creation of wines that combine rich texture, vibrant acidity, and a pronounced aromatic spectrum. The harvest is carried out exclusively by hand and often in several passes, in order to select only optimally botrytized grapes. This is one of the key secrets behind the quality of Château Rieussec.
Fermentation and ageing take place in French oak barrels, which provide additional structure, depth, and subtle spicy nuances. As a result of these methods, Château Rieussec wines display a multi-layered character: a palette of honey, citrus fruits, tropical notes, and delicate spices, complemented by lively acidity and an exceptionally long finish.
Since 1984, Château Rieussec has been part of the Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) group. This period has brought even greater attention to vineyard management, harvest selection, and winemaking precision. Today, Château Rieussec wines are regarded as some of the most representative examples of the Sauternes appellation, valued for their elegance, balance, and ability to age gracefully for decades.
