The good news is the 2017 R de Rieussec is not only the top vintage ever (for MANY critics) of this leading dry white from Sauternes – and it even rates above the $300 Y from Chateau D’Yquem! AND we have it at the best price anywhere.
It also rates above every dry white Graves (and dry white Bordeaux period) in this seminal vintage.
Suckling 95 – best ever:
Very aromatic with cooked pears, lemon rind, peaches and stone. This is very powerful and rich with depth and intensity that show superb power. Dense and foursquare with wild fruit. It’s phenolic and exciting.
Best ever for Vinous, too:
The 2017 R de Rieussec is a stunning wine that melds together the richness of Sémillon with the vivacity of Sauvignon, with a smattering of tropical accents that give the R its distinctive personality. Passion fruit, mint, pineapple white flowers, apricot and orange confit are some of the many nuances that give the R its alluring personality. In 2017, the R is absolutely delicious. Don't miss it.
And the Wine Advocate:
Composed of 53% Sémillon and 47% Sauvignon Blanc, the 2017 R de Rieussec simply sings of ripe peaches, pink grapefruit and lemon curd with touches of elderflowers, honeysuckle and straw. The palate is medium-bodied and packed with zingy stone fruit and citrus layers, supported by a wicked backbone of freshness, finishing long and minerally.
And Decanter:
Rieussec's dry white is intense and concentrated, with exotic fruit, fleshy white pear and white peaches. It has great length and tons of minerality. A great year for the dry whites of Sauternes.
And Dunnuck:
The dry white from Rieussec, the 2017 R de Rieussec is close to equal amounts Sémillon and Sauvignon. It has lots of white grapefruit, citrus, and some saline-like minerality to go with a ripe, medium-bodied, vibrant style on the palate. It’s complex, with vibrant acidity and notable elegance, and my money is on it drinking nicely for upwards of a decade.
Rieussec is literally the next-door property to Chateau D’Yquem – and in certain vintages (like this), its rare dry white wine can surpass that of Yquem.