1997 - Ch Rieussec 1er Cru Sauternes
0797RIEUH _ 1997 - Ch Rieussec 1er Cru Sauternes - 24x37.5cl
Colour
Port_Sweet
Producer
Château Rieussec
Region
Sauternes
Grape
Semillon / Sauvignon Blanc/ Muscadelle
Drinking
2005 - 2025
Case size
24x37.5cl
Available Now

1997 CH RIEUSSEC 1ER CRU SAUTERNES - 24x37.5cl

Colour
Port Sweet
Producer
Château Rieussec
Region
Sauternes
Grape
Semillon / Sauvignon Blanc/ Muscadelle
Drinking
2005 - 2025
Case size
24x37.5cl
Available Now
Duty Paid (Inc. VAT)
Case price £692.14 (Inc. VAT)
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Pricing

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Additional Information

  • Duty Paid wines have been removed from Bond and cannot subsequently be returned to Bond.  VAT is payable on Duty Paid wines. These wines must remain Duty Paid but can be purchased as such for storage subject to VAT.

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Tasting Notes

  • RP1

    Robert Parker, April 1999,
    Score: 90-92

    This wine contains an extremely high percentage of Semillon (usually about 90%), which was to its benefit in 1997. The wine is light medium gold-colored, with a blockbuster nose of Grand Marnier liqueur intertwined with flower blossoms, smoky new oak, and coconut. Well-integrated wood has resulted in a seamless, full-bodied, unctuously-textured wine with considerable sweetness. This is a stunningly proportioned, beautifully pure wine. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2025.

  • RP

    Robert Parker, April 2000,
    Score: 91

    This wine contains an extremely high percentage of Semillon (usually about 90%), which was to its benefit in 1997. The wine is light medium gold-colored, with a blockbuster nose of Grand Marnier liqueur intertwined with flower blossoms, smoky new oak, and coconut. Well-integrated wood has resulted in a seamless, full-bodied, unctuously-textured wine with considerable sweetness. This is a stunningly proportioned, beautifully pure wine. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2025.

  • JR

    Jancis Robinson, December 2001,
    Score: 17/20

    Ch Rieussec 17 Drink '04-'17 Much paler and greener than young Rieussec used to be. Alluring nose somehow combines tropical fruits with some animal scents. Rich, charming, subtle, flirtation and appetising on the palate. It should provide pleasure quite early in its life.

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Producer

Château Rieussec

Rieussec's 90 hectares of vineyard occupy one of the highest points in the Sauternes after those of neighbouring Yquem. Unusually the vineyard is one unit, and not made up of several parcels like most Bordeaux properties.The good work started by Albert Vuillier (more oak, and increased passes picking more developed grapes) in the 1970's has been continued by the current owners - Domaines Baron de Rothschild (of Lafite) - who rebuilt the chai in 1989. Vines are on average 25 years old, with Plantings predominantly Semillon (92%) with a small amount of Sauvignon Blanc (5%) and Muscadelle (3%). If the year is judged too poor as in 1993, the grand vin is not made at all. Bottlings under the name Clos Labère are also produced. The deeply coloured wine has a rich, honeyed style, which exhibits great precision and tremendous persistance.

Region

Sauternes

It is not an exaggeration to say that these are the greatest sweet wines in the world. They are the result of a serendipitous marriage of grape variety, location, annual weather conditions and human care and determination. The vineyards are located on the banks of the cool spring-fed Ciron river which, in autumn, flows into the warmer tidal Garonne and creates rolling evening mists which clothe the vines until the afternoon sun burns them off the following day. This cycle creates perfect conditions for the development of botrytis cinerea or noble rot, and the resulting grape juice is a super concentrated sweet, ambrosial nectar which makes the most heavenly and complex wines with extraordinary ability to age. In 1855 the wines were classified into first and second growths, with Ch d'Yquem rightly receivingits own super status of premier grand cru. Other stunning wines include Chx Sudiraut, Rieussec, Coutet and Climens. While seductively fragrant and sweet when young, if you can bear to wait, you will be amply rewarded with lusciously rich, exotically complex wine.