Carmes de Rieussec 2021

An enticing Sauternes wine with finesse and aromatic expression

The estate

Château Rieussec is located in the prestigious Sauternes appellation, in the south of the Bordeaux region. This castle steeped in history belonged to the Carmelite monks of Langon in the 18th century and was sold as a "bien national" ("national property")  after the Revolution. Classified as a Sauternes Premier Grand Cru in the 1855 classification, Château Rieussec was acquired by the Rothschild family in 1984.

The vineyard

Second Wine of Château Rieussec, Carmes de Rieussec is a Sauternes wine made from a sandy-clay gravel terroir. The vineyard of Château Rieussec extends across 93 hectares at the junction of Fargues and Sauternes, which makes it one of the largest in the appellation.

The wine

Château Rieussec continues its transformation by unveiling the 2021 vintage of its Second Wine in a bottle with a revisited design, made of PcR ("Post consuming Recycle") glass composed of recovered and recycled domestic glass.

The vintage

The winter of 2021 was marked by an intense frost, which gave way to a mild spring that advanced an even development of the vineyard. The heavy rainfall in June and July led to strong mildew pressure, and unstable conditions lasted until mid-August. Thereafter, more favourable conditions, including the rain of 15 September and regular fog, allowed for the gradual arrival of noble rot. Despite very low yields, the harvest, which was carried out in up to 4 selections, revealed exceptionally fresh grapes.

Winemaking and ageing

After the harvest, the grapes arriving at the winery were immediately pressed and vinified in a plot-by-plot manner. The musts were then put into barrels separately after settling in order to carry out the fermentation. Once fermentation was complete, the juice on the lees was stirred regularly until mid-December. After a rest period, the wine was racked and then blended before being aged in barrels for approximately 12 months.

Blend

Sémillon (61%)
Sauvignon Blanc (39%)

Characteristics and tasting tips for Carmes de Rieussec 2021

Tasting

Nose
Subtle and mineral, the nose opens with a lovely minerality with scents evoking warm stones and dried grass after a storm. Throughout aeration the bouquet becomes more complex through fruity (fresh apricot) and floral (white flowers) notes.

Palate
Of a lovely freshness, the palate entices with its subtle lemony notes that are characteristic of Sauvignon Blanc, its precision and its delicate woody notes.