Chateau Rieussec: Wine Styles, 8 Delicious Bottles (2024)

Chateau Rieussec is a renowned wine estate nestled in the Sauternes appellation of Bordeaux. It is best known for it’s Premier Cru Classe (First Growth) sweet botrytis wines.

It was managed by Carmelite monks until the 18th century but was confiscated and sold during the French Revolution.

In 1984, Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite (who owns several other French properties) acquired this historic Bordeaux winery from Albert Vuillier, and introduced new winemaking traditions. 

Interestingly, Rieussec is the only white Bordeaux made by Barons de Rothschild.

Let’s explore the Château Rieussec estate - its wines, 8 best bottles in 2024, magnificent vineyard, and brilliant winemaking techniques.

The Exotic Chateau Rieussec Wine Styles

Chateau Rieussec produces three white wines from the Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, and Muscadelle grape varieties.

1. Château Rieussec Premier Grand Cru Classé

The estate’s flagship Premier Cru Classe wine is made from 90%-95% Semillon and 5%-10% Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle grapes affected by botrytis cinerea fungus.

This botrytis wine has classic Sauternes notes of tropical fruit and honeysuckle (or honey.)

Château Rieussec produces around 6,000 cases of this wine annually.

2. Carmes de Rieussec 

Carmes de Rieussec is the estate’s second wine, admired for its tropical fruit and honey flavor.

Chateau Rieussec’s second wine is made from 80%-90% Sémillon and 10%-20% Sauvignon and Muscadelle.

3. « R » de Rieussec

It is a Premier Cru Classe Sauternes wine made from 50% Semillon and 50% Sauvignon Blanc.  Only 20% of it’s fermentation takes place in oak barrels to preserve the fresh fruit flavor of the wine.

Chateau Rieussec Wines: Taste And Food Pairings

Chateau Rieussec wine has layered pineapple, orange blossom, apricot, mango, vanilla, and caramel notes. It usually has a high natural residual sugar content.

You can have seafood dishes, chicken, pork, and slightly spicy Asian dishes with your glass of wine.

Serve your Chateau Rieussec at 14oC (57oC) to get the best of its flavors.

Looking for the best bottle to serve on a special occasion?

8 Best Bottles Of Chateau Rieussec To Buy In 2024 (Including Tasting Note, Prices)

Here are the top Chateau Rieussec wines that every wine lover should try out:

1. 1928 Chateau Rieussec
2. 1929 Chateau Rieussec
3. 1916 Chateau Rieussec
4. 1945 Chateau Rieussec
5. 2005 Chateau Rieussec Château de Cosse
6. 1995 Chateau Rieussec Clos Labere
7. 2007 Chateau Rieussec R de Rieussec Blanc Sec
8. 1990 Chateau Rieussec Clos Labere

1. 1928 Chateau Rieussec, Sauternes ($1,105)

This 1928 bottle from Bordeaux is a dense and opulent botrytis wine with intense fruit notes and honeyed nuances of sweet spices and vanilla.

2. 1929 Chateau Rieussec, Sauternes ($966)

This first growth wine has complex aromas of creme brulee, apricot, and tropical fruit. The palate has apricot flavors and a long finish.

3. 1916 Chateau Rieussec, Sauternes ($959)

This pale lemon wine has a creme caramel, candied orange peel, and a spiced peach nose with hints of honey. The palate has a subtle acidity.

4. 1945 Chateau Rieussec, Sauternes ($883)

This vibrant botrytis wine offers peach, sugary fruit, and honey aromas. Rich and creamy on the palate, this sweet wine has lively acidity.

5. 2005 Chateau Rieussec Château de Cosse, Sauternes ($120)

This vintage has apricot fruit, dried mushroom, and honey flavors with refreshing acidity. The nose gives off enchanting pineapple and lemon curd aromas.

6. 1995 Chateau Rieussec Clos Labere, Sauternes ($92)

A brilliant Rieussec, this sweet wine has complex aromas of dried apricot, apricot, honeysuckle, dried mushroom, and honey. The palate has a lovely acidity.

7. 2007 Chateau Rieussec R de Rieussec Blanc Sec, Bordeaux ($63)

The 2007 R de Rieussec bottle has exceptionally fresh aromas of exotic fruits, white peach, and honey. The palate has a long fruit finish.

8. 1990 Chateau Rieussec Clos Labere, Sauternes ($54)

The nose has intense botrytis spice, dried apricot, white peach, and caramel aromas, while the palate offers a lively acidity.

Is Chateau Rieussec Wine Investment-Worthy?

The naturally high residual sugar of the Château Rieussec wine gives it a good aging potential of 15-35 years. So, it’s perfect for cellaring for the long term.

The Rothschild family has successfully brought out the best expression of the Château Rieussec wines by improving the vineyards and winery.

Their attention to detail puts this Grand Vin on par even with the remarkable Château d’Yquem wines. In fact, The 2001 Chateau Rieussec scored a 99 from critic Robert Parker for its nuanced complexity and richness.

In 2020, Chateau Rieussec was listed as one of the top 10 best-performing wines of the year on Liv-Ex.

Some of the vintages that you should get a hold of are: 2020, 2018, 2017, 2015, 2014, 2013, and 2010.

Now, let’s see how the Rothschild family makes wines with exceptional quality.

The Exceptional Vineyard And Winemaking Practices Of Chateau Rieussec

Château Rieussec has an 85-hectare vineyard - one of the largest Sauternes vineyard sites. Rieussec’s vineyard comprises 85% Semillon, 13% Sauvignon Blanc, and 2% Muscadelle grape varieties.

The vine plantings are laid on a blend of gravel, sand, clay, and limestone soils which it shares with Château d’Yquem and Château de Fargues. These complex soils give the wines great depth and concentration.

The vines are harvested in passes only when the fruit reaches the perfect level of botrytis cinerea. The sorting occurs at harvest time, and the best bunches are selected for the Grand Vin.

For fermentation, the winemaker selects a mixture of new and used French oak barrels. 

Finally, the wine is aged in a 50% new French oak barrel for 18-24 months, depending on the style and vintage.

In difficult vintages, the winery doesn’t produce any wine, declassifying the year’s crop - as has happened in 1977, 1993, and 2012.

Add A Fine Chateau Rieussec To Your Collection

Château Rieussec wines are opulent, concentrated, and age-worthy. 

With the growing interest in Sauternes sweet wines and Rothschild’s passion for producing exceptional wines, this fine wine is one for your collection!

If you want to invest in this delicious Sauternes or any other fine wine, you should do it through a wine investing platform like Vinovest. Explore the website and start building an authentic wine collection right away.