Château Rieussec 2007 (Imperial 6 L)

Château Rieussec 2007 — Sauternes Premier Grand Cru Classé

This Château Rieussec 2007, offered here in the rare Imperial 6 L format, is a great expression of Sauternes from a vintage renowned for botrytis purity, freshness and balance. A Premier Grand Cru Classé in the 1855 classification, Rieussec delivers in 2007 a wine that is rich, luminous and precise: honey, ginger, pear, quince, apricot, fig, marmalade, candied citrus, white flowers, crushed stone, spice and a freshly saline finish.

Located in Fargues, neighbouring Château d’Yquem, Château Rieussec is one of the historic references of Sauternes. The 2007 combines generous sweetness with clear acidity, cutting through the botrytised fruit with precision. The large Imperial format slows evolution, preserves freshness and magnifies ageing potential, offering a more stable, noble and gradual reading of this great Bordeaux sweet wine.

Terroir: Fargues, noble botrytis and the great soils of Sauternes

Château Rieussec is located in the Sauternes appellation, in the commune of Fargues, in an environment favourable to the development of noble rot. Morning mists linked to nearby waterways encourage Botrytis cinerea, while drier afternoons allow the grapes to concentrate. This alternation is essential to the production of great Sauternes wines.

The wine is based mainly on Sémillon, complemented by Sauvignon Blanc and a small proportion of Muscadelle depending on the vintage. In 2007, the published blend combines 87% Sémillon, 8.5% Sauvignon Blanc and 4.5% Muscadelle. Sémillon brings richness, texture and botrytised depth; Sauvignon reinforces freshness and aromatic brightness; Muscadelle adds a floral and spicy nuance.

Tasting notes

Appearance: deep gold with golden and early amber reflections, bright, dense and luminous. In Imperial 6 L, evolution should be very slow, with the colour preserving brilliance, visual freshness and depth for a long time.

Nose: delicate, rich and gradually complex, with dried honey, pear, quince, apricot, peach, fig, candied citrus, marmalade, ginger, white flowers and crushed stone. With aeration, nuances of acacia honey, vanilla, saffron, orange zest, almond, tarte Tatin, tropical fruits and sweet spices may appear.

Palate: broad, unctuous and very balanced, with generous sweetness crossed by clear acidity. Flavours of honey, ginger, pear, quince, apricot, marmalade, candied citrus and exotic fruits unfold over a dense and silky texture. The finish is long, spicy, fresh and precise, with touches of lemon, lemongrass, wet stone and salinity.

Expression of the 2007 vintage

The 2007 vintage in Sauternes is often considered a great year for sweet wines, thanks to high-quality botrytis and freshness capable of balancing richness. At Rieussec, it gives a pure, dense and well-defined wine, with a palate that is both viscous, balanced and crossed by lively acidity. Recurrent notes evoke honey, pear, quince, ginger, honeycomb, marmalade, lemongrass, apricot, spice and candied fruits.

Today, this Château Rieussec 2007 in Imperial 6 L remains in a phase of great reserve, with considerable ageing potential. It can already offer fine complexity after careful opening, but the large format should preserve its energy for a long time. With age, the candied fruits should evolve towards more saffron, beeswax, dried fruits, bitter orange, tea, spice, blond caramel and saline complexity.