Well is it 100pts? No. Is it truly dessert wine making at a very high level? A resounding YES. The '01 Rieussec is a wine for the ages. The orange, apricot finish is over 1 minute in length. This wine has a 25+ year life in front of it, and I thank my friend for opening one to share during my birthday. The acidity and fruit is truly in unison for such a young Sauternes. The predominant fruits of orange, apricot, melon, pinapple, star fruit and mango are a true winelovers experience. 96pts.
IW
Life without wine?...... Yeah Right. The Unexamined Life Is Not Worth Living - Socrates "Wine....offers a greater range for enjoyment and appreciation than possibly any other purely sensory thing which may be purchased" ERNEST HEMINGWAY (1889-1961)
ITB
Posts: 3156 | Location: Louisville, KY | Registered: Nov 14, 2001
I opened a half-bottle for Thanksgiving at WDOT's house. We were trying to figure out what made this a 100 pointer. I do agree with your assessment on the balance of this baby! I'm saving the rest of my bottles to open over 5 year periods. (I don't know if I have 20 years left!)
Posts: 742 | Location: Dallas, TX, USA | Registered: May 02, 2003
quote:Originally posted by preferred: I opened a half-bottle for Thanksgiving at WDOT's house. We were trying to figure out what made this a 100 pointer. I do agree with your assessment on the balance of this baby! I'm saving the rest of my bottles to open over 5 year periods. (I don't know if I have 20 years left!)
The next time I open one of my 1990 750s I'll make sure your there to taste it. You'll figure it out real quick.
Joe ----- Wine is like potato chips around me...if it's open, it's gone.
2001 Château Rieussec - Sauternes, Sauternais, Bordeaux, France (12/8/2004) This was my WOTN at the Neal Winery dinner in Chicago. Many thanks to AllRed for bringing this 750ml bottle, which he had opened at 7 AM that morning to give it some air time. Pale straw color. A nose full of spring blossoms, nectarines, and honeysuckle. An elegant multi-tiered array of flavors on the palate, including almonds, pear brandy, vanilla, and ginger. A seriously long and impressive finish that seems to linger for minutes. Exquisite balance. Not as creamy, sweet, and mouth-wateringly delicious as the '01 Suduiraut I tried in June, but I would put my money on this Rieussac as the one that will be drinking best in 20 years. It seems to have slightly better structure. (97 pts.)
2001 Château Rieussec - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes (7/3/2007) Tasted 1 year ago. Very nice. Very pure with nice apricot, honey and marmalade nose with orange rind and honey notes that replay on the palalte. Vibrant acidity which is a must (IMO) in dessert wines is present here. A really nice Sauternes and very pure. Not cloying at all. (93 pts.)
*********************** "I have drunk not to the clouding of my reason, but just so much that I can still surely distinguish the syllables with my tongue." Athenaeus
2001 Château Rieussec - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes (7/3/2007) Tasted 1 year ago. Very nice. Very pure with nice apricot, honey and marmalade nose with orange rind and honey notes that replay on the palalte. Vibrant acidity which is a must (IMO) in dessert wines is present here. A really nice Sauternes and very pure. Not cloying at all. (93 pts.)
Tasted 1 year ago? You sure have a lot of catch up to do!
I did taste this wine semi-blind during a 2001-2002 Sauternes horizontal, and it was my wine of the night, just a tiny bit in front of Yquem 2001. I rated it 98...
Both these wines were outstanding and a long way ahead of the competition.
Wine Spectator Online RSS Feeds