Excellent quality, vibrant gold colour, sharp citrus, pineapple, mango and lime zest acidities, opulent and silk-strewn texture that closes in and grips through the finish, finishing with a mint leaf signoff. Accomplished and enjoyable, mouthwatering and tightrope walking. Jean de Roquefeuil technical director (now left for DBR's Languedoc estate Aussières), Ondine Sanfins viticulturalist creating a library of vines for massal selection. First year of organic conversion.

Bottled in a special bottle, the 2021 Château Rieussec checks in as 91% Sémillon and 9% Sauvignon Blanc. It has a killer bouquet of orange marmalade, grilled peach, brioche, and minty herbs, with more spice and toasty notes emerging with time in the glass. Rich, full-bodied, and concentrated, yet gorgeously balanced with good acidity, it's a sensational Sauternes that deserves 4-5 years in the cellar and will evolve for two decades.

(VN 94-96 points) The 2021 Rieussec is bright, floral and super-refined. White flowers, lemon confit, pear, passionfruit and mint are all nicely lifted, with beams of bright acids that lend support. As has been the case in recent years, Rieussec is done in a style that is all about maintaining freshness and verve. There's plenty of both here. The 2021 was harvested over 3-4 picks. Yields are down 30%, which is a very favorable result for the year in Sauternes. The 125 grams of residual sugar are not at all evident. -- Antonio Galloni

Revealing a fruity, energetic bouquet, the 2021 Rieussec, a blend of 91% Sémillon and 9% Sauvignon Blanc, is a great performance in Sauternes. Medium to full-bodied, supple and enveloping, it’s perfectly balanced with a fleshy core of fruit and a mineral, saline finish. - Yohan Castaing