R de Rieussec
The vintage
The season began with a mild, dry winter. However, there were then six serious threats of frost between March and May.
After a relatively cold, rainy start, June brought an early summer heat wave the likes of which had not been seen since 2003. Fortunately, it was brief. The vines coped well with the lack of water in July, almost as if the dry spring had prepared them.
Miraculously, some rain arrived on 26 July. The timing was perfect, and it had the effect of triggering the véraison, when the grapes change colour and begin to ripen.
The temperate weather in August proved to be a godsend for our dry white wines: the grapes were harvested from the end of August to mid-September with superb freshness and well-preserved aromatic potential.
The work to determine which plots should be dedicated exclusively to dry white wine is bearing fruit. This year the Sémillon is particularly vibrant, and the young, recently planted plots of Sauvignon are living up to their promise.
Following the 2017, here is another R that will go down as a great vintage.
Location
The Sauternes appellation stretches on the left bank of the Garonne, about 50km South of Bordeaux. The natural humidity arising from the Ciron river provides the ideal conditions for the development of Bortrytis Cinerea, also known as noble rot.
Terroir
Château Rieussec sits on the border of Fargues and Sauternes, bordered by Château d'Yquem to the West. Rieussec is one of the largest properties in Sauternes and Barsac, covering 93 hectares of gravel sitting on sandy-clay soils.
Winemaking
Grapes are harvested by hand in small crates. They are refrigerated prior to being brought to the press, which helps prevent oxydation. The pressing is gentle in order to retain the aromatic freshness of the grapes. Once the must has settled, most of the semillon are placed in new oak barrels to undergo alcoholic fermentation, whilst the sauvignon is predominantly fermented in temperature controlled stainless steel tanks. Once fermentation is completed, the wine in barrel is kept on its lees for a period of six months with regular stirring, whilst the sauvignon are racked and left to age in the tanks to preserve their aromatic qualities.
Grapes
Tasting
Beautiful pale-yellow colour with youthful glints of green.
The nose is reserved before aeration, but already offers a glimpse of a very fresh wine. On aeration, the Sauvignon aromas emerge first. They are classic with a hint of exoticism. Then come more flowery notes of Sémillon. The oak is very well-integrated.
On the palate, the attack offers volume without being excessive, and reveals a pleasant, tight structure. This is an R that will be remembered: simultaneously lively and delicate, with superb length!
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