Rieussec 2019 (750ML)

97 VM / 96 JA / 96 DE / 96 WI / 17 JR

2019 is the first vintage to be offered in this eye-catching new bottle intended to be kept and reused after the Sauternes is enjoyed.

The 2019 Rieussec is absolutely gorgeous. Gracious and supremely elegant in feel, the 2019 is immediately impressive. An exotic melange of lemon confit, marzipan, white flowers, passionfruit and tangerine oil opens effortlessly. The 2019 is compelling from start to finish. Harvest took place from October 8 to 15, in three passes. The 2019 is the first vintage that will be offered in a stylish new bottle. It is no secret Sauternes has struggled of late. I must say I really liked the new and very modern presentation, which shows a more playful side of Sauternes that might just work in creating a bit more excitement around these wines. - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

Expertly constructed, with luxuriously intense pineapple, mango and apricot pit flavours matched step for step by bitter orange peel, lime juice and tingling grated ginger. Sauternes doesn't always manage to deliver such a mouth-watering mix of satin texture set against pinpoint acidity, but the late harvest 2019 - botrytis arrived when the nights were cool - made for some exceptionally successful wines in the appellation, even if yields were tiny. This is a delicious Rieussec, full of personality, and its 120g/l residual sugar leaves its trace in texture rather than in weight. First year of organic certification. - Jane Anson, Inside Bordeaux

Lovely noble rot aromas but quite modern in profile with freshness and energy. On the palate there is expressive and open flavours of honeyed lemon, orange rind and pineapple well wrapped in a viscous, rich, sumptuous and seductive layer of sweetness. Great acidity backbone, not mouthwatering as such but just enough that it lifts the overall feeling so much then the structure comes in supporting the frame making you think this is a serious and super charming wine. Great texture also the flavours glide across the palate. Excellent intensity but also freshness. A great aperitif style to enjoy before a meal - serve cold and let the wine reveal more complexity and nuance as it warms and opens. A new, fun bottle was introduced for this vintage. Dark glass was used 'obliging you to pour it as you can't see the colour' says Saskia de Rothschild with a reusable cork stopper so it can be kept in the fridge and consumed in several sittings. Drinking Window 2027 - 2045 - GH, Decanter

Pale to medium lemon gold in color, the 2019 Rieussec floats effortlessly out of the glass with a very classy perfume of candied ginger, lime cordial, and juicy apricots with hints of honeycomb, toasted almonds, and nutmeg. Medium-bodied, the palate is beautifully open and balanced with bright citrus and stone fruit flavors and moderate sweetness, offset beautifully by a zippy line, and finishing with great length. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent

Bright gold. Pear and citrus aromas. Sweet, full and concentrated. Big and dense with plenty of reserve but perhaps a bit too much? Faint bitter botrytised finish. - JancisRobinson .com

For centuries, Château Rieussec preserved the secret of a mythical elixir, a Sauternes wine that told the story of the terroir of its origins. Prized for its rarity, originality and inimitable sweetness, it comfortably settled in tradition, folklore and general agreement, without being troubled by the world around it.

In the light of the ecological transition stimulated, supported and accomplished by Saskia de Rothschild in all the Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite properties that she directs today, Rieussec had to signify its rebirth through a highly symbolic act of re-enchantment and break some codes to assert its personality, attract curiosity and evoke desire.

“The time has come for Rieussec to reinvent itself, so that the vineyard, wine and bottle all share the same commitment to sustainable development, from agriculture that is more respectful of the environment through to the preservation of natural resources provided by our new packaging,” explains Saskia de Rothschild. “Devising an original bottle, one that you want to keep when it’s finished, is part of this same philosophy.”

As an extension of the ecological transformation of the estate, it was imperative that this new packaging should be as environmentally friendly as possible, both in the materials used and the carbon footprint of their transport. These imperatives spontaneously imposed the need to abandon the traditional clear glass used for Sauternes in favour of PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) glass, an innovation in non-transparent glass, 95% recycled, in which surface roughness is accepted. Likewise, all the components of the bottle (cork, cord, etc.) are designed to be sourced as locally as possible, with the goal of allowing their reuse. The estate is also going so far as to abandon its historic wooden case in favour of a cardboard case with lower ecological impact. Finally, this reusable bottle transforms into a durable object: with a replaceable hermetic closure, devised by Swiss design agency Big Game, the Rieussec bottle can be stored in the fridge for up to a month. Once empty, its life is not over: it is easy to remove the label and turn the bottle into a water jug or vase. - Chateau Rieussec