France · Bordeaux

Chateau Rieussec

Château Rieussec is one of Sauternes' finest Premier Cru estates, adjacent to d'Yquem and at its best capable of wines that genuinely rival the great estate. The property was acquired by the Rothschild family of Lafite in 1984, bringing the resources and prestige needed to elevate quality to its current heights. The 93-hectare vineyard is planted predominantly to Sémillon with significant Sauvignon Blanc, and the wine is made with the same multiple selective harvest passes that all great Sauternes require. Rieussec is known for a particularly rich, sweet, and concentrated style, with deep honey, apricot, saffron, and spice character that can be more opulent than d'Yquem in some years. Great vintages — 1983, 1988, 1989, 1990, 2001, 2007, 2009, 2011 — produce wines of extraordinary complexity that evolve magnificently over decades. A dry white Sauternes, 'R' de Rieussec, is also produced. At auction, Rieussec is the second most actively traded Sauternes after d'Yquem, with great vintages offering exceptional quality at prices significantly below the great château.