Château Rieussec
Chateau Rieussec is an iconic Bordeaux name that evokes the charm and prestige of great Sauternes. In fact, along with 8 other famous estates in the area, such as Chateau Climens and Chateau Suduiraut, Rieussec belongs to the Premier Cru Classé category, the highest for Sauternes according to the official classification of Bordeaux wines from 1855 commissioned by Napoleon III, second only to the unattainable Chateau d’Yquem. The property of Chateau Rieussec is located in the municipality of Fargues, approximately 50 kilometers southeast of the city of Bordeaux, and the historical roots of the castle date back to the 13th century. After numerous changes of ownership, in 1984 the estate was purchased by the important Domaine Barons de Rothschild, already owner of the prestigious Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, which further elevated the quality of production.
The over 90 hectares on which the vineyards of Chateau Rieussec extend are dedicated, in increasing order of importance, to the traditional grape varieties Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sémillon, with the latter representing as much as 90% of the vineyard area. The rows, bordering to the west with the vineyards of Chateau d’Yquem, rest on alluvial soils rich in gravel and limestone and benefit from the autumn morning mists that allow for the correct development of noble rot, a phenomenon at the base of the so-called “botrytized wines” caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea. The harvest is carried out in a staggered manner with numerous passes, in order to select the individual bunches and even the individual grapes that have properly developed noble rot. Once in the winery, the grapes are gently pressed and the must obtained undergoes fermentation and subsequent prolonged aging in small French oak barrels, new for about 50-60%.
In addition to the Sauternes Premier Grand Cru Classe, Chateau Rieussec produces three other labels: the so-called “second wine” ‘Carmes de Rieussec’, the Chateau de Cosse, and the dry white ‘R de Rieussec’. Focusing on the Sauternes Premier Grand Cru Classe,
Chateau Rieussec is an iconic Bordeaux name that evokes the charm and prestige of great Sauternes. In fact, along with 8 other famous estates in the area, such as Chateau Climens and Chateau Suduiraut, Rieussec belongs to the Premier Cru Classé category, the highest for Sauternes according to the official classification of Bordeaux wines from 1855 commissioned by Napoleon III, second only to the unattainable Chateau d’Yquem. The property of Chateau Rieussec is located in the municipality of Fargues, approximately 50 kilometers southeast of the city of Bordeaux, and the historical roots of the castle date back to the 13th century. After numerous changes of ownership, in 1984 the estate was purchased by the important Domaine Barons de Rothschild, already owner of the prestigious Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, which further elevated the quality of production.
The over 90 hectares on which the vineyards of Chateau Rieussec extend are dedicated, in increasing order of importance, to the traditional grape varieties Muscadelle, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sémillon, with the latter representing as much as 90% of the vineyard area. The rows, bordering to the west with the vineyards of Chateau d’Yquem, rest on alluvial soils rich in gravel and limestone and benefit from the autumn morning mists that allow for the correct development of noble rot, a phenomenon at the base of the so-called “botrytized wines” caused by the fungus Botrytis cinerea. The harvest is carried out in a staggered manner with numerous passes, in order to select the individual bunches and even the individual grapes that have properly developed noble rot. Once in the winery, the grapes are gently pressed and the must obtained undergoes fermentation and subsequent prolonged aging in small French oak barrels, new for about 50-60%.
In addition to the Sauternes Premier Grand Cru Classe, Chateau Rieussec produces three other labels: the so-called “second wine” ‘Carmes de Rieussec’, the Chateau de Cosse, and the dry white ‘R de Rieussec’. Focusing on the Sauternes Premier Grand Cru Classe,
