Château Rieussec - Sauternes 2017 b5952cb1c3ab96cb3c8c63cfb3dccaca

Wine Advocate

97 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe3/17/2020

A blend of 83% Semillon and 17% Sauvignon Blanc, the 2017 Rieussec is pale to medium lemon-gold colored. To begin, the nose blows you away with intense lemon tart, lime cordial, mango and quince notes followed by a second wave of floral, orange blossoms and honeysuckle scents, and then notes of crushed rocks, crème caramel and marzipan join the party. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is still very tightly wound with concentrated sweetness and a racy backbone to match, delivering layer upon layer of citrus and savory flavors, finishing on a persistent mineral note. Drinking Window : 2023 - 2057

Wine Spectator

93 / 100

byJames Molesworththe2/7/2020

Delivers some rare floral lift for the vintage, with a honeysuckle edge out front, pulling creamed mango and papaya notes along. Flashes of green tea, hazelnut and piecrust emerge on the finish. Showy, but with nice detail buried within. Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc. Drink now through 2035. 6,000 cases made. — JM

Jamessuckling.com

98 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe1/13/2020

Inspirational depth with botrytis spice, toffee, dried-apricot and sponge-cake character. Full-bodied, very sweet and lively with a long, endless finish. Lively acidity balances the wine. Tight and linear. Compact column of fruit and botrytis. Give it age. Better after 2026.

Le Point

16 / 20

byJacques Dupontthe6/20/2018

Nez floral, pêche blanche, bouche élégante, bien parfumée, une sensation de fraîcheur malgré un taux de sucre important

Jeb DUNNUCK

95-97 / 100

byJeb Dunnuckthe6/12/2018

The 2017 Rieussec is a killer Sauternes that shows the fresh, chiseled style of the vintage while still packing awesome fruit. Huge notes of orange blossom, honeyed citrus, mints and exotic flowers flow to a full-bodied, viscous 2017 that has beautiful purity, a clean, perfectly balanced texture, integrated acidity and a great finish. It’s a rockstar effort.

Vinous

94-97 / 100

byAntonio Gallonithe5/15/2018

The 2017 Rieussec captures the natural intensity of the year, while also remaining faithful to the house style that is now favored by the estate. A high percentage of Sauvignon Blanc (17%) adds freshness and lift to the passionfruit, pineapple, mint and lemon confit flavors. Beautifully harmonious and persistent in the glass, the 2017 has so much to offer. In this tasting, it is simply tremendous.

The Wine Cellar Insider

95-97 / 100

byJeff Levethe5/11/2018

Roasted nuts, pineapples, vanilla custard and apricots come on strong. The wine is perfectly balanced between sweetness and racy acidity, with a melange of over-ripe, spicy, sweet, tropical fruit and honey. The wine was made from blending 54% Semillon and 46% Sauvignon Blanc.

Vinous

92-94 / 100

byNeal Martinthe5/1/2018

The 2017 Rieussec was affected by the frost, losing around 15% of the production although, it was more located in parcels that are designated for the dry white R de Rieussec. Eric Kohler told me that it was a relatively rapid picking. It has around 125gm/L residual sugar. It has a clean but slightly distant bouquet, does not really exude the richness that you expect from Sauternes. The palate is medium-bodied and more promising than the nose: a viscous opening, quite spicy and slightly Auslese in style. The acidity is well balanced and it becomes increasingly lively towards the lychee and fennel-tinged finish, as if compensating for the nose.

Wine Advocate

96-98 / 100

byLisa Perrotti-Brownthe4/27/2018

Blended of 83% Sémillon and 17% Sauvignon Blanc, the 2017 Rieussec gives up beautiful notes of orange marmalade, beeswax, acacia honey and yuzu with touches of lemon tart, grapefruit pastilles and musk perfume. The palate is full, rich and unctuous with incredible layers of citrus and honeyed fruits, finishing very long and perfumed.

WeinWisser

18 / 20

byRené Gabrielthe4/25/2018

Jean-Marc QUARIN

16 / 20

byJean-Marc Quarinthe4/17/2018

Wine Enthusiast

95-97 / 100

byRoger Vossthe4/17/2018

Hugely rich, this wine has great intensity. Ripe mango and peach flavors boast a strong botrytis flavor, giving it full-bodied concentration. With its larger-than-life richness, it needs many years to calm down. Drink from 2025.

Decanter.com

94 / 100

byJane Ansonthe4/9/2018

This is an effortless Rieussec that's elegant and harmonious, displaying a wonderful quickening through the mid-palate compounded by a confident and energetic uplift on the finish. It has an excellent silky texture, and although the acidity and sweetness play off against each other, they could go a little higher. They were 15% affected by frost here, but only on plots used for their second wine and dry white wine.

Drinking Window 2020 - 2040

Jamessuckling.com

97-98 / 100

byJames Sucklingthe4/6/2018

This is very focused and an intense with so much spice and dried lemon character with cloves and dry mushroom too. Full body and very sweet yet finishes dry and spice. Harmonious and great.