Castle Rieussec - Sauternes 2011

Wine Advocate

95 / 100

byNeal Martinthe2/28/2015

Tasted blind at the Sauternes 2011 horizontal tasting. The Château Rieussec 2011 transcends its somewhat “middling” performance from barrel and delivers a knockout wine in bottle. For sure, it demonstrates a lot of vanilla from the new oak on the nose, complemented by almond, French patisserie and touches of white peach. The élevage is more expressive than the terroir at the moment, although there is clearly a lot of fruit underneath. The palate is very well balanced, with thickly textured honeyed fruits that lacquer the inside of the mouth and stay there. This is extremely well balanced but very young and primal, yet the crescendo of flavors is very impressive. Tasted blind, I hazarded a guess that this might be Yquem ’11. Enough said.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar

95 / 100

byIan D'Agatathe8/31/2014

Brilliant golden yellow.  Knockout nose combines peach, citrus fruits, white flowers, saffron, honey and stone complicated by very pure lemony botrytis.  Extremely deep and concentrated but youthfully closed, showing a powerful floral character to the peach, passion fruit and marzipan flavors.  Finishes very long and perfumed; a laser beam of acidity gives this Sauternes exceptional clarity and cut.            

Vinum

18 / 20

the6/30/2014

Viel von allem, Saft, Rasse, Frische, Dichte, Süsse; Lange, beeindruckender Wein. 2020 bis 2030

Jamessuckling.com

96-97 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe2/19/2014

This shows incredible freshness and power, with dried pineapples, mangoes and papayas. Full body, medium-sweet with electrifying acidity. Vibrates your palate. Barrel sample still.

Wine Spectator

93-96 / 100

byJames Molesworththe2/11/2014

A very ripe, juicy, spicy style, with bold apricot, tangerine, toasted almond and papaya notes. Shows lots of power, with the length to match. A winner in the making.

La Revue du Vin de France

15-16 / 20

the5/31/2012

Avec 147g de sucre, la sensation de liqueur est bien présente. Les lots qui constitueront le grand vin correspondent à la récolte de la troisième semaine de septembre ; avant, il n'y a eu que des tries de nettoyage.

Le Point

15,5-16 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe5/17/2012

Poire, grillé, beure, pêche blanche, bouche ample, généreuse, très liquoureuse, puissante, vive, orange amère, complexe, puissant. Vin d'amateur, pour les puristes du sauternes traditionnel, bien qu'il ne paraisse pas ses 147 grammes/litre de sucre. O= 2016 G= 30 ans

Decanter.com

18,5 / 20

the4/30/2012

Departing from its usual unctuous style, this vintage displays great purity and lifted, elegant flavours. Great concentration of flavours and amazing complexity. Exotic fruits and floral notes are typical of Rieussec. A precise, detailed wine with a long finish. Drink 2021-2047.

Wine Advocate

91-93 / 100

byNeal Martinthe4/30/2012

The 2011 Rieussec has a lifted, at the moment quite oaky, bouquet with scents of honey, almond and pineapple. Hopefully it will develop more definition by the time of bottling. The palate is medium-bodied with tropical fruit and mandarin on the entry and a satisfying viscous core of honeyed fruit. It seems a little disjointed towards the finish, although I am sure it will become more cohesive by the time of bottling. For me, it just seems a little predictable. Drink 2015-2028+.

TAST

17-18 / 20

by Bettane & Desseauvethe4/30/2012

Un géant très discipliné, très rôti mais pas au détriment de la fraîcheur, maîtrise technique évidente, grand avenir.

Wein Wisser

18 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/30/2012

2015-2045

Jancis Robinson

17 / 20

byJulia Harding MWthe4/25/2012

Drink 2019-2032
RS 147 g/l, TA 3.9 g/l, pH 3.79. Mid gold, linseed and grapefruit mixed and a fine line of orange through the middle. Rich, golden and almost syrupy on the palate. A little sour and oily on the finish and so rich the acidity is hard to spot except that the whole is in balance. Spicy aftertaste and very long. (JH) 14.3%

Asian Palate

93-95 / 100

byJeannie Cho Lee MWthe4/20/2012

Departing from its usual unctuous style, this vintage displays great purity and lifted, elegant flavours. Great concentration of flavours and amazing complexity. Exotic fruits and floral notes are typical of Rieussec. A precise, detailed wine with a long finish.

Wine Spectator

93-96 / 100

byJames Molesworththe4/9/2012

A very ripe, juicy, spicy style, with bold apricot, tangerine, toasted almond and papaya notes. Shows lots of power, with the length to match. A winner in the making.—J.M.

Wine Enthusiast

95-97 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/2/2012

This wine shows sheer opulence; it’s beautifully rich and ripe, powered by complex flavors of orange zest and superripe mango. It’s fresh, showing this vintage’s character. ––R.V.

Jamessuckling.com

96-97 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/1/2012

This is a fabulous Sauternes with dried peaches, pineapples and mango. Apricots and hints of spices. Even jam. Full-bodied, medium sweet with intense and powerful palate. This wine has 147 grams of residual sugar. So balanced and long. We will see what is better -- Rieussec or Yquem?