Rieussec Wine

Château Rieussec is known as one of the greatest names relating to Sauternes. With complex, sweet and balanced wines on offer, they are some of the best the region has produced. Its reputation has earned the place of Premier Cru Classe status, just slightly below d’yquem yet alongside other prestigious estates such as Guiraud and Suduiraut. The wine continues to perform consistently well each year as a consequence of Lafite-Rothschild’s expertise and investment since 1984. Producing wines since the late 1980s and mid-1990s, Rieussec produces classic full-bodied white wines that are deep golden-yellow in colour, featuring sweet, honeyed fruits.

Rieussec Types of Wine

Rieussec wines are full-bodied white wines that sit near the top of the Sauternes pyramid. With a strong concentration of flavours, thick textures and sensations of orange, apricot, mango and pineapple, these are stunning wines that can age for decades, and it is important to note that these wines usually develop a darker colour than other Sauternes. After 20-30 years, the win can become a shade of amber or copper, which is standard for Rieussec. Chateau Rieussec is much better with age, reaching full maturity between 15 and 35 years of age. However, the wines can still be enjoyed on the young side with no decanting.

Of course, the wine has a sweet taste, but the wine always feels fresh with acidity and never cloying, making it quite an enjoyable win to have young. Like all Sauternes, the temperature is more important than decanting.

Heritage of Rieussec Wine

Having benefited from large investments from Domaines Baron-Rothschild, Rieussec is now one of the largest estates in Sauternes, boasting 93 hectares on gravel and clay soils. Chateau Rieussec was founded by an order of Carmelite monks, and similar to other Bordeaux wine properties, the estate was confiscated during the French Revolution.

Following the 1855 Classification, Rieussec passed through numerous different owners until the Chateau was sold to Domaines Barons De Rothschild in 1984, with Charles Chevallier being placed in charge of managing the Chateau just a year after.

Only Château d'Yquem has a higher elevation than Rieussec's peak at 78 metres. The average vine age is 25 years old, with a vine density of 7,500 per hectare. Similar to all the top Bordeaux wine producers, the harvests are done in passes, meaning the length of the harvest and amount of passes are determined by the level of the botrytis found on the grapes and the ripeness of the fruit. In extremely difficult vintages, Rieussec did not produce any wine, declassifying their entire crop. This has only happened 3 times in 1977,1993 and 2012 so far.