R de Rieussec 2022, 750ml

A blend of 55% Sauvignon Blanc and 45% Sémillon, grown on 85 hectares of gravelly sandy-clay soils at Château Rieussec, located between Fargues and Sauternes, adjacent to Château d’Yquem. Vines are harvested by hand into small crates; Sauvignon was picked early to preserve freshness, while Sémillon was harvested fully ripe for structure. Fruit was gently pressed and cold settled, with Sauvignon fermented primarily in stainless steel tanks and a portion in used barrels, while most Sémillon was vinified in new and once-used French oak barrels. Wines aged on lees for six months with regular bâtonnage, then blended 50% from barrel and 50% from tank prior to bottling.

Tasting Note:

On the nose, it shows thyme, lime, with smoky and vanilla undertones. The palate is clean and mineral, with a saline edge, subtle toast, and a grapefruit bitterness on the finish. Overall, it is a taut and expressive white shaped by precision vinification and the tension between varietal freshness and oak-derived texture.

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Region: Sauternes

Variety: Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon

Rating: The Wine Independent 89-91