2011 Rieussec, Sauternes (Pre-Arrival)
SKU #1091077
96-97 points
James Suckling
This is a fabulous Sauternes with dried peaches, pineapples and mango. Apricots and hints of spices. Even jam. Full-bodied, medium sweet with intense and powerful palate. This wine has 147 grams of residual sugar. So balanced and long. We will see what is better -- Rieussec or Yquem?
(4/2012)
95-97 points
Wine Enthusiast
This wine shows sheer opulence; it's beautifully rich and ripe, powered by complex flavors of orange zest and superripe mango. It’s fresh, showing this vintage’s character.
(4/2012)
93-96 points
Wine Spectator
A very ripe, juicy, spicy style, with bold apricot, tangerine, toasted almond and papaya notes. Shows lots of power, with the length to match. A winner in the making.
(4/2012)
91-94 points
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar
(95% semillon, 3% muscadelle and 2% sauvignon blanc; 6 g/l total acidity; 147 g/l residual sugar): Dark yellow-gold. Spicy botrytis complicates aromas of fresh peach, passion fruit, rose water and marzipan, with an enticing floral quality providing lift. Suave and fine-grained, showing a more delicate than usual texture for this cuvee, with intense flavors of passion fruit, peach and saffron. A subtle, restrained example of Rieussec with nicely integrated acidity and very good finishing grip. Harvested between September 1 and November 2 in three to seven selective pickings per parcel.
(8/2012)
91-93 points
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2011 Rieussec has a lifted, at the moment quite oaky, bouquet with scents of honey, almond and pineapple. Hopefully it will develop more definition by the time of bottling. The palate is medium-bodied with tropical fruit and mandarin on the entry and a satisfying viscous core of honeyed fruit. It seems a little disjointed towards the finish, although I am sure it will become more cohesive by the time of bottling. For me, it just seems a little predictable. Drink 2015-2028+.
(4/2012)
Jancis Robinson
Mid gold, linseed and grapefruit mixed and a fine line of orange through the middle. Rich, golden and almost syrupy on the palate. A little sour and oily on the finish and so rich the acidity is hard to spot except that the whole is in balance. Spicy aftertaste and very long.
(4/2012)