97pts Jeb Dunnuck

Bottled in a special bottle, the 2021 Château Rieussec checks in as 91% Sémillon and 9% Sauvignon Blanc. It has a killer bouquet of orange marmalade, grilled peach, brioche, and minty herbs, with more spice and toasty notes emerging with time in the glass. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, yet gorgeously balanced with good acidity, it's a sensational Sauternes that deserves 4-5 years in the cellar and will evolve for two decades.

94pts James Suckling

Medium-bodied with spice and caramel. Dried mushroom and cloves. Orange peel and burnt orange. Medium-sweet.
Barrel Sample: 93-94

93pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Revealing a fruity, energetic bouquet, the 2021 Rieussec, a blend of 91% Sémillon and 9% Sauvignon Blanc, is a great performance in Sauternes. Medium to full-bodied, supple and enveloping, it’s perfectly balanced with a fleshy core of fruit and a mineral, saline finish.

Winemaker Notes

Château Rieussec’s second wine is selected according to the same standards as the first wine. Its character consistently reveals a beautiful aromatic range dominated by citrus flavors. Carmes de Rieussec’s name is a reference to the Carmelite monks in Langon, who owned the Rieussec estate in the 18th century.