Château Rieussec 2007

The 2007 Rieussec is a blend of 87% Semillon, 4.5% Muscadelle and 8.5% Sauvignon Blanc picked between 13 September and 31 October. It has an almost Barsac-like bouquet with barley sugar joining the ginger and honeyed notes, quite powerful although I feel this is just going through a sullen patch at the moment. The palate is very pure and balanced with a wonderful seam of acidity that slices through the viscous botrytis fruit, quite spicy on the finish, although it does not possess the persistence of the 2005 or 2009, just cutting away swiftly. Tasted April 2016.

Sweet, vaguely sticky nose. Certainly impressive for the sugar level! And there’s an attractive savoury undertow that stops it being sickly. Lots there. Reverberates. Long. Very long. It has that thing that a good Condrieu has: a subtext. (JR)

Big, bold, rich, thick, concentrated and filled with honey-drenched tropical fruit, citrus rind, apricot, orange blossom and vanilla, the wine is still primary and wants more time. If you cannot keep your hands off it, enjoy it for its fresh fruit, honey, spice, crème brûlée and nutty personality. At maturity, I imagine it’ll deserve another point or two.

Pale, fresh yellow. Brilliant Botrytis bouquet, lavish sweetness, plenty of ripe, almost exotic fruit notes. The same richness on the palate, a polarizing acidity balancing with the lush sweetness, a massive finish with an almost oily flow, showing a mineral note on the aftertaste, surprisingly approachable and open.

Pale, fresh yellow. Brilliant, very light botrytis bouquet showing lavish sweetness, with plenty of ripe, almost exotic fruit notes. On the palate, this richness continues with a polarizing acidity that balances the generous sweetness; the finish is powerful, with an almost oily flow that reveals a mineral note on the aftertaste. Shows itself remarkably approachable and open.

Restrained, fresh bouquet with dried apricots and citrus. Full, velvety, dense, creamy palate with pronounced sweetness, good acidity, and a syrupy structure. Full finish. 19/20 2015 - 2040

Great character, magnificent structural generosity, fruit of exemplary purity, long finish, a classic of the vintage.

Golden color with green highlights. Camphoraceous nose, which is a pity. Sweet on the attack and a bit simple mid-palate. The wine develops into a medium-length oaky finish that lingers on a note of citrus zest. Residual sugar 123 g per liter. Alcohol by volume: 14.

Surprisingly, 2007 at Rieussec doesn’t come across as a wine of breathtaking richness. Even so, it is more subtle, more digestible and finer, which suits it very well!