R de Rieussec 2021 (750ML)

93 DE / 93 JA / 91 WI

The new identity of R de Rieussec arrives with the 2021 vintage, a white wine with great freshness with a completely redesigned bottle. The packaging is refined with the least possible impact on the environment: a Burgundy-shaped bottle, whose glass, opaque and therefore non-polluting, is made of 96% recycled glass. An understated label representing a logo both more modern and elegant.

New label as of this vintage and also a turning point for the wine which has had dedicated vineyard plots since 2014 and for the past three years different management in the cellar with investment in cooling systems and zero oxygen transfer during the press. Alluring notes of fresh pears, grape aromas and some apricot elements - soft yet nuanced. Very softly floral too with peach blossom. Juicy and lively on the palate with body, depth and roundness. Mouthwatering and zingy full of citrus lemon and lime as well as stone fruit flavours, some bitter orange and grapefruit touches and a delicious chalky salinity that comes in layers on the tongue and really lingers showing the markers of the terroir. Lively but all very well controlled with balanced and lifted acidity. Recommended drinking time in 3-4 years but it has a decade of potential. 59% Sauvignon Blanc (vinified in stainless steel) and 41% Semillon (new oak barrels for six months with regular lees stirring). Grapes are grown on gravel soils over sandy clay. - Georgina Hindle, Decanter

Following on from the redesign of the main Rieussec wine last year, next up is the dry white, with a clean-lined label that does a good job of reflecting the crisp, pared down flavours that you are going to find in the bottle. Everything here is about accentuating the crisp, chiselled flavours that Sauvignon Blanc can deliver in cooler vintages such as 2021 - and the challenges of the year were far less of an issue for white wines that don't need the same period of dry weather before harvest. Insead this is delicate, with gentle floral aromatics, but with grip and length in the glass. Thoroughly enjoyable. Olivier Trégoat consulting winemaker. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

Already in bottle, the 2021 R Rieussec slowly emerges from the glass with pretty notes of grapefruit oil, lime blossoms and fresh pears, plus suggestions of coriander seed and lemongrass. The light-bodied palate is elegantly styled with a great intensity of citrus and mineral inspired flavors and a crisp line, finishing with great length. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent

Blend 59% sauvignon blanc / 41% sémillon

"Two-thousand twenty-one is a brilliant vintage for the dry whites of Bordeaux. It is an unusual year in which the wines have the energy that is often associated with cooler seasons, but the textural richness that is often only achieved in warm years. That duality makes the best 2021 whites compelling and absolutely riveting in the finest examples.” - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

"Generally speaking, the quality of the dry whites is better and more consistent than the vintage’s reds. The white grapes enjoyed a longer growing season than they did in the previous warmer vintages that necessitated earlier picking. Flavor compounds were nicely developed, and the wines are expressive, with plenty of crisp freshness that is well-balanced by the intensity of flavors. As with the red wines, the white wine alcohols are, for the most part, lower than in previous years, but not markedly so.” - Perotti Brown of Wine Independent on 2021 Bordeaux Dry Whites