Color, clear golden yellow; 1st nose, saffron; 2nd nose; caramelized apple; on the palate, pronounced saffron flavors, caramelized pearls, medium body with subtle sweetness. The star of the evening!!
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Delicious bottle as expected, served with mothers favorite dessert cake which was unfortunately to sweet for this profound and mature wine. Deep flavours of honey, overripe apples, nuts and delicate saffron. Maybe not as long and intense as I would have hoped even when drunk on its own. Excellent and a treat while not epic.
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5 bottles between July 2022 and March 2024 which were very consistent. Mid golden colour, delicious lifted, honey nose. Great balance. Good acidity. To be picky it should be more concentrated for a higher score. Lacked a bit of body.
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This is one of remaining (4) 1986 Chateau Rieussec bottles from a case purchased at The American Heart Association Auction in Baltimore hosted by the esteemed Robert Parker. Wow, what a return on my contribution. At age 38 this Sauternes is near perfection with decades left to go thanks to its' impeccable storage. I just drank a 2009 Château d'Yquem' the other evening and it is a younger brother to this most satisfying, easy to drink, most flavorful gift from above.
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Beautiful and expressive nose of apricot, caramel, lemon, peach, and minerals. It's very rich but balanced by acidity with flavors of grapefruit, more apricot, and minerals on the palate. Long finish. Really pretty wine that's drinking perfectly right now. It's very showy and a touch more acidity may have elevated this even more.
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67PM with Roger + friends (67 Pall Mall): Still a tasty wine, this bottle seemed slightly faded and lacked the expected impact. Gentle honeycomb and lime, good acidity, nicely sweet without being cloying. A highly pleasant end to the meal, then, without excitement.
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A stellar showing, far exceeded expectations. Honeycomb, apricot, caramel, fantastic high acidity that really impressed even the neophytes in the group.
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New to old Sauternes. A really lovely wine though. Honeycomb, nuts and raisins, saffron and orange blossom, some melon, rich and luxurious. Still decent acidity. Was surprised at the vivacity. Really well balanced and a pleasure to drink.
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I thought this was just superb. Had a verve and lift to it that separates for me great Sauternes from just nicely aged, etc. Balanced, some confectioner's sugar and deftly weighted. Just a pleasure. Richer golden color but danced on the palate. Loved it.
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Lonny Should Turn 65 More Often (The Kenwood, Mpls, MN): Amber color. PNP, drank a glass over 30 minutes. Maybe the best bottle to date. This was delicious and showing very well. Creamy, orange creamsicle, baked apricots, apple peel, honey, apple blossoms, unctuous, long and showing nice spice on the finish. 93+ to 94pts.
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Surprisingly, 14.3% alcohol. Golden-orange, excellent color for its age and not at all heading into tawny; aromatic, orange blossom, floral, honey; palate is medium-full bodied, retains some sweetness of youth but it has integrated and comes off very elegant, medium-plus acidity which balances but doesn't leap off the page, 14.3% alcohol is well balanced, orange and some citrus rind, some baking spice with cardamom, less saffron; finish is medium length. Rieussec with age is always enjoyable, as it sheds its intense sweetness and dense mouthfeel and becomes an elegant, mature wine. This bottle certainly reflects that evolution and seems at early maturity, though honestly will continue to evolve for another decade. A bit less complex on the nose and palate as top examples of aged Rieussec. 92
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92-93. Out of 750 taking on some brown amber tones. Lovely complexity of fruit on the palate and not cloying sweetness. Viscous mouthfeel (not oily). Lacks some acidity. If it had some more acidity, this could be a 95+.. but it doesn't have that next level acidity unfortunately. Paired better with a weaker blue cheese than the stronger blue cheese; couldn't match the stronger cheese.
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375ml Copper/amber color. Nose was less compelling mostly sweet prunes, rum soaked raisin, coffee. Palate a lot more intersting that wasn't overly sweet, still had nice acidity and touches of lemon, orange marmalade & honey.
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a perfect bottle 0,375; dark amber color; nose of almond, raisins, honey; creamy on the palate, some saffron, creme brûlée, amazing sweetness, not blunt at all but well supported; absolutely the best bottle from this case; must be at its peak now, but no hurry
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1st of 3 bottles bought recently. Base of neck. Cork was dry needed the Butlers friend. Despite doubts about storage the wine is fine. Nose is initially a big hazelnut botrytis then an hour later caramel. Big sweet complex body, cut through with pineapple acidity. The 80's were excellent for Rieussec and have been drinking this well for 20 years. Expect this to go on well for another 20. Father Xmas may have to make do with the sherry.
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Stunning wine. Aromas of tropical fruit gave way to creme brûlée and layered botrytis. Fantastically long finish with balanced acidity. Could have aged longer, but oh so perfect now.
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This was really excellent - complex and layered. That said, I think my palate is a bit more attuned to Barsac and this felt just a little thick and cloying. If I ever go into a diabetic coma, however, this is my preferred way to be revived - please take note.
Taking on a golden, coppery hue, the wine is all about its caramel, molasses, honeyed apricot, pineapple, creme brulee, and burnt sugar profile. Rich, sweet and fruity, there is ample freshness that keeps all that luscious textured, honeyed tropical fruit in check.
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This was just dynamite and a big improvement from a bottle had 5 years ago. Much more expressive notes of toffee and marmalade on the very giving nose. Just a light touch of botrytis here to give it some spice, but nothing heavy or cloying or overly honeyed as this was very fresh and compelling on the palate. Incredibly youthful showing, especially from a half-bottle, and another reminder of what an overlooked, underpriced category Sauternes has become.
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The nose placed it firmly as in the early stages of maturity with vibrant spicy and fruity nose with some light butterscotch. Strong fruits, light caramel and butterscotch with brown sugary notes. Medium bodied with stronger acidity. Can drink now, but considerable upside if you wait 10+ years.
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After hibernating in my cellar for almost 30 years, I finally pulled the cork on this beauty. My experience with Sauternes is very limited, but happy to have waited this long. Honey and lemon curd descriptors come to mind, with ample acidity to make for a nice refreshing finish. A perfect finale to a dinner with good friends.
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From 375. Beautiful golden color. Rich nose of cinnamon, cheesecake, honey, lemon, and a hint of portiness. Silky honeyed palate with sharp edge of botrytis, enough acid to refresh the finish. Extremely good now.
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From a 750ml bottle. Quite an improvement since the last time I had it 10 years ago. Amber in color. On the palate, this has filled out considerably. No more "gas / petrol/ shower curtain" notes. Instead, beautifully integrated with a honeyed character. Rich, but just enough sharpness on the mid-palate to keep it from being cloying. As expected, a very long finish. Great addition to the Thanksgiving Day table.
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In marvelous condition. Darker amber, creme brulee nose, fresh acids that lift and define. A lot of pleasure, now and the next many years, though not sure it's going to improve. With a variety of desserts, this really popped with fresh berries, and even some melon. A touch of savory circles the nose on this giving it an air of grandeur.
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Sexy & focused. Drank with friends at La La Tour d'Argent in Paris with foie gras appetizer, then finished at dessert with cheese.
Fully mature beautiful clear corn syrup color, called topaz by sommelier David Ridgway.
Laser precision nose of apricot, lychee and light honey, it lacked the caramel viscous weight one usually associates with aged Sauternes but was lightweight and delicious.
Dancing on the palate, the finish wasn't one, but rather a World Series game 7 in the 12th inning.
if a date, this was a sexy intellectual Harvard MBA McKinsey consultant turned afternoon sex kitten plaything you don't want to let go, Ever.
AAA+ Enjoyment to treasure now but easily has 20 years ahead.
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Château Margaux vertical dinner (Taberna Del Alabardero): I must confess, dear reader, to some palate fatigue after so many vintages of Château Margaux: Ah the sacrifices we make to share wine tasting notes on Cellar Tracker! 😳 Anyway, I just loved this Sauternes! A cooler vintage, combined with a warm terroir and that equals sheer pleasure. Crème brulée nose and the palate is lovely with tobacco leaf and tea leaf. You get the botrytis notes as well as agreeable sweetness. And a long finish. Bravo!
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From a nice looking 1/2 bottle, this wine had a deep gold/light orange center and yellow/clear rims. The high- intensity nose emanated honey, oranges, brown sugar, vanilla, and some white soil.
In the mouth, this wine was gorgeously balanced with lovely richness offset by solid acidity. There was tons of flavor and great length. While this had great presence, it came off as refined relative to say the 1976 which is so dramatic.
As one would expect, this wine improved with a couple hours of air. It is another winner from Rieussec which has produced so many lovely wines. While solidly in the zone now, it will last for decades.
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Clear dark orange gold colour. Clean nose of toffee and butterscotch. Very balanced, and nice acidity on palate. This could still wait years to drink. Unfortunately I only have the one bottle. Drank along side a 2001. Love drinking the older sauternes, but they are still great young.
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Jacques and Jill vist Denver (Denver): This bottle was fully mature, sporting a deep copper color. Highly aromatic, it as the essence of toffee and caramel, with terrific acidity and length but lacking some of the complexity and marine nuances that can make mature Sauternes so compelling.
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Drinking very well. Honey, minerals, a bit of caramel. Light acid/mineral structure. Not too sweet, nicely balanced. All things considered I'd drink sooner rather than later.
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Remarkably pale for rieussec 30 years old. Beautiful nose , citrus bottytis with a hint of the usual barley sugar. Refined fresh well balanced. Lovely from a 375ml
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From half bottle. Slight petrol note at first that disappeared in 3 minutes to reveal scents of honey bee wax, caramel, raisins and dry bark. Palate of sherry, caramel, honey and a short spicyness in the end. Loooong finish. Wine of the year so far. Totally destroyed the jj prüm auslese it was drunk alongside.
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A private dinner (@ Home): Pristine bottle, level into neck. First from a recently acquired case. Rich, shimmering orange gold, not very deep by Rieussec's standards; the nose is light, but remarkably vivacious for a 30 year old Sauternes, it evokes the smells of a patisserie, vanilla and butter, honey, hint of spiced mango, deep; the palate is exceptionally vibrant and elegant (especially in light of the 14% ABV), only delicately sweet but very intense, with juicy fruit and vanilla from the new wood; finishes relatively dry with notable bitters, baked apple and cinnamon, and the flavour persistence is excellent. Not a very complex Rieussec at present, but it does have line and length. It improves markedly over 24 hours in the fridge, the palate becomes much sweeter, more tropical, and a lot richer. This has decades ahead of it.
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11th of 12 - always good, but some bottles have been a tad sulphury, as in 2013, this one was stunning, fresh tropical fruit and peaches, very long, complex and fresh, presented more like the outstanding 88, and a step up on previous bottles. VF (18.5).
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Leo's Blind Tasting Group - Oct '15 edition (Ben's): Second experience with this wine, again served blind by Ben, and my impressions are again very similar. A lighter, fresher expression of Sauternes with the usual tropical fruit/apricot marmalade/honeyed flavour profile, but the botrytis is dialed back a bit more here, and there's plenty of acidity cutting through the sweetness. Very nice.
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Stellar Night of Bordeaux; 5/15/2015-5/17/2015 (NYC): Another terrific bottle of this. Not quite as saline and minerality as the best bottles are, this is still powerful, aromatic and svelte, filled with caramel, butterscotch hard candies, squash blossoms and mulled orange. Very nice.
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Very dark gold in colour. Nose of honey, and candied fruit. Nice acidity, and very balanced. Was not as blown away as I was expecting. I love sauternes young, was hoping it would provide much more complexity with age.
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Yummy. Caramel and something like a japanese maitake broth on the nose. The acidity is paramount here, watering my mouth. Caramel and candied orange peel fill out the palate. The sweetness is moderate and so perfectly balanced between the acidity and savory tertiary notes.
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More about power than nuance. Nose of orange, caramel and apples, with thrilling levels of acidity and burnt sugar. Smooth and long, very good with a long future ahead.
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From 750ml. Consistent with my previous TN; this one showed even a tad better. I'm not surprised, given the larger format and the grandeur of the occasion and setting! With Ben, Kevin & Fred. Delightful!
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Quelle merveille ! Suave, doux, corsé, et si rare, si délicat, si profond... coco, ananas, agrumes, fruits à coque, dattes, miel, fleurs, tous les parfums de l'Arabie ne pourraient pas suffire à en exprimer la richesse, la quintessence... Et gras, opulent, ennivrant, drappé d'or et d'ambre comme une déesse immortelle... qui se dévoile au fil des gorgées... et distille dans l'air les parfums de sa chevelure parfumée... Délices... Le palais de l'homme qui boit devient jardin des délices, comme dans un vrai baiser profond, prolongé, langoureux et renouvelé... Rares sont les vins d'une telle teneur et d'une telle tenue...
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Rieussec Tasting (Tom's House, Palo Alto): My #1, group's #1. Wonderful complexity on the nose with botrytis spice, youthful fruit; palate has exquisite balance, good persistence, medium complexity; medium long finish. A great example of youthful Sauternes. 93
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Smells and tastes like caramel. Much drier that I expected from a Sauternes, a pleasant surprise. Lighter, a hint of acid and apple following the lingering caramel aftertaste. Perfect for sipping on a hot summer afternoon!
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Lovely light copper hue. Aromas of marmalade, honey, some florals, and a bit of toffee, but not especially strong or expressive. Nice bit of botrytis spice and a smooth mouthfeel and enough cleansing acidity to keep you going back for another sip. Not an especially complex or powerful example of a mature Sauternes, but a screaming deal at $25 for a half bottle.
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Rust-colored. Not over the top on sweetness but this felt older to me than it was. This wine may have been a bit tired, or maybe it was me that was tired by this point in the evening. Pleasant but I didn't love it.
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Leo's Blind Tasting Group - May '14 edition (Ben's (NYC)): This comes across fresher and lighter on its feet than what I typically expect from most Sauternes; it's certainly quite sweet and intense, but there's really bright acidity beneath the ripe clementine, apricot and honey-tinged tropical fruit flavours. The botrytis here doesn't overwhelm, and it's one of the more light and elegant Sauternes I've come across in some time.
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A half bottle and ideal level of maturity. Big and bold with some botrytis but whereas other Sauternes show apricot notes Rieussec is all orange. To smell and taste this is all marmalade, dark Oxford marmalade.
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You need lovely aged sticky after a long night of 78 Mgx, 82 La Mish, 82 & 83 GL, 89 Lynch Bages, 90 Dominus and 01 Lafite, don't you!? This 750ml marked the spot. Bottle in good physical condition, stood for days. Popped and poured into decanter, then served. Nose of grilled, caramelized pineapple. A very soft, velvety Botrytis palate. The finish here was a touch disappointing, let's call it medium at best. Lovely dessert drink and no reason not to drink up
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Tuesday Night Double Blind $40+ (Bin 75): From 750 mL; golden color with green hues, very youthful appearance; spicy pineapple, orange marmalade, apricot, white raisin; weighty, waxy, still fresh and new, still primary, good botrytis; beautiful wine with lots of potential yet.
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Dinner with friends last night. Fantastic wine. Perfectly aged and hitting on all cylinder. Very long and delicious finish. Sweet without being cloying. Would buy again.
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Monthly Tasting Group: Bordeaux (Levain, Mpls): Amber color. Drank 1+ glass over 30+ minutes. This was showing quite nicely again. Classic aged Sauternes, apricots, honey, floral, smoky, a little peach pit. The palate is graceful, understated power, very well balanced, apricot, honey, spice, smoke, minerals. Long finish. Always a treat.
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Le (limite') Tour de France (Home): This was a great "closer" to our tasting. From the refrigerator, I let it warm up a few minutes before opening. The color surprised some of the guests, but I assured them the wine was probably going to be just fine; after all, reds lose color in the bottle and whites gain it. Being 26 years old, this one had turned a deep, rich brown. Botrytis was evident in the scent as soon as the cork was pulled and the wine did not disappoint. To me, one of the true miracles of wine is how the great botrytized wines can be so sweet without being cloying on the palate. Technically, I know it's the result of the acid in the grapes/wine, but to taste it in a wine like this still fills one with wonder. Some salty, grainy Maytag blue completed the experience. Life, for a while, was very good.
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Same experience as last bottle +/- 2 years ago. Stunning nose of apricot marmelade with a nice acidity on the palate, not cloying or overly sweet. Just perfect. I love Rieussec.
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One taster below called this too young, another called it too old! I call it Fantastic! Waves of sweetness and complexity to this, not cloying nor overly heavy. Right now it is mature and very enjoyable.
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Rieussec Vertical (Vini di Domani, Eksel): Brought this to our grand Rieussec-tasting. Non-blind. Beautiful notes of warm fruit. The changing policy of oak-use/elevation is starting to show. It adds an obvious vanilla/coconut/cinnamon-seasoning to the tropical scents. Great if you like your Sauternes young (!) and sweet. But I'll bury my remaining bottles for another 3-5 years. 18/20
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*Golden colour. **Chest nuts, apricot, abundant botrytis. Not large and impressing enough for the name. ***Started out with murky wooden notes but came around in the glass already after 20 minutes. Great pleasure with the typical power of R. Nice acids rounding off everything and length enough to iron a shirt in between sips but not the high level of complexity usually found in the more graced sweeties. ****Still youthful and very appealing. For a R it's good, but not great. They can do better than this. (Was afraid it was already going down - and this was from a 1/2-btl.)
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Amber golden color. In the bouquet orange peel, marzipan, coconut and even some licorice. On the palate honey, pineapple and apricots. Good concentration and balance between the intense sweetness and the acidity. Elegance as well. From this 0.75 bottle no signs of old age at all.
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Lovely apricot nose orange-zest marmelade, honey and caramel notes. Lovely taste, not overly sweet but with a nice acidity and a lovely touch of orange zest making the whole very balanced. A great expression. Is just perfect with a Wittamer Orange Bavarois. Life is beautiful.
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(Old note) Developed nose of dried fruit, wet paper, minerals and burned cola. Very developed palate. Almost medium-sweet in flavour. Apricot marmelade, botrytis, mineral and rubber suit. Rather too developed for our tastes. Tasted blind and compared with 1996 Rieussec and 2006 Rieussec, we came to the conclusion that this was a bit too old for us. Dryish and too much rubber. A bit thin as well. But then again, not the best of vintages.
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Golden color. Delicious nose of honey & pineapple & melon. Intense taste of sweet papaya, melon, honey and pineapple. I think this wine is nearing the end of its peak performance.
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Deep gold color. Complex, balanced nose of orange, lemon, flowers, caramel and lanolin. Equally complex on the palate with intense honey and botrytis. The acidity and sugar are in perfect balance. Long, candied finish. A textbook, outstanding Sauternes. Drank at Ron Hodges' house.
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From 750 mL: Beautiful nose, reduced brown sugar and pineapple, dried mushrooms and a bunch of honey. Similar palate with some sharp acidity throught the entire experience. Nice weight and feel as you would expect from this producer, yet I felt this came off as slightly boring. Nice long finish again here, but that sharp acidity wasn't doing it for me, and there was a slight hit of booze on the finish that was noticable. Still a very tasty wine no doubt.
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Mature Bordeaux at David's (David Paris's place): Moderate caramel color. Very sweet on the nose with aromas of butterscotch, violets, candied citrus and almonds. Unctuous and complex on the palate with all the usual Rieussec fruit groups present - tangerine, pineapple, mango, lychee - but lacking in acidity to pull it all together. All in all a very good but not quite outstanding Rieussec.
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Blind Mature Bordeaux, 1966-1995 (My house): Great, delicious nose, some house paint, rich pineapple on the grill (with caramelized outside), green apple skin, and kiln dried clay. Deep palate, very creamy and soft. Nice zing on the finish of this pleasing wine. I had this a few weeks earlier, but this was a better showing... really delicious.
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brilliant dark gold, almost amber; interesting nose, caramel, coffee; well balanced on the palate, sweet caramel but well supported by acids; a great pleasure which should hold for another five years
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Gorgeous yellow color, nice texture. Typical nose of apricots and honey, amazing mouth-feel. A great bottle of wine, a true pleasure to share with family.
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Pleasant half bottle, but a little too much burnt sugar instead of a more balanced sweetness. Still, a nice bottle to cap off a nice meal...and could work nicely with certain meals.
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Just a lot going on. Nose of orange blossom, gasoline and honey. Taste of honey, fig, dried apricots and melted spatula plastic. On the sweetness scale, this is on the downward slide. But there is enough acidity to carry all these flavors. Long finish, around 60 sec. From 375ml.
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Still light in color and surprisingly young tasting as well. Everything is here and the wine shows excellent balance. I would classify this as medium intensity with lovely nuances and spice. This would probably be an excellent candidate for some more aging though very enjoyable tonight.
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What a lovely example of aged Sauternes. Scents of honey comb, botrytis, and orange rind...in the mouth there is still great acidity that caresses the palate as layers of honey, nectarine, and caramel extend through a long finish...paired with almonds, figs, and a chamomile vanilla rissoto. A wonderful experience. (Tasted from a 375ml)
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Mpls does Northern Rhone (Chave, Guigal, Jaboulet, Chapoutier, Clape, more): From 375. Popped and poured. An excellent bottle. Expressive nose of citrus and apricot. Thick and syrupy on the palate but with enough acidity to keep it lively and balanced. Burnt orange flavors are excellent. Awesome stuff. Glad I've got a few more.
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From a 750. Day 1 - I was going to go with "gas / petrol" to describe a component of the palate, but an earlier reviewer's reference to "vinyl shower curtain" is much more on the mark. Good acidity, fairly low on the sweetness scale. A person preferring that style might score this higher. For my tastes, I prefer something in a bit sweeter, richer style. I have no basis to judge aging potential, but this doesn't seem to be in any danger of fading in the near-term. To that point, better on the second day (more aromatic, a bit sweeter on the palate with notable hints of pear/peaches, more velvety mouthfeel). 90 pts day 1, 92-93 day 2.
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Amazing flavors. Very complex and deep. Beautiful medium amber. I will not wait longer due to it not being really sweet. But, enough surgar for now. A wonderful aged sauterne!
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Drank on New Year's Eve and it was fully mature: Very round and nice carmel color. Not refined like an d'Yquem or even one of the single vineyard Delevaux selections or a Zind Humbrecht SGM, but very enjoyable and a good value. I've hd it in my cellar for a long, long time....
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This was very tasty and appreciated by all. Nice dark amber color with complex fruit flavors. Nice bouquet smell, orange, nut, smooth, lingering taste.
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I'm wondering if the bottle we tasted from was in some way flawed, perhaps oxidized, since it doesn't seem to match the tasting notes here. This bottle had just a hint of botrytis. It had a noticible taste of Semillon and a very nutty taste. It was pretty dry - very little sugar. I find the idea that it was oxidized unlikely, though - the cork was tighter than anything I've ever seen of this age, and it was in really great shape.
An enigma!
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Polygamists Dinner at Michael's (Winnetka, IL): Dark gold with a powerful, restrained nose of boytris, honey and orange. Unctuous texture with well-timed acidity offering just enough balance.
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Dinner at Bern's Steak House (Tampa Florida): Ordered from the list for $110. Only a Sauternes can make me love the smell of vinyl shower curtain. The nose had that and orange peel. The palate was smooth, well integrated, and a little simple. It is not as sweet as some vintages, but it was a terrific way to end the night.
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Bright gold in color. On the nose, exotic, highly nuanced notes of orange peel, peach, and melon. In the mouth, vibrant flavors of orange and peach emerge on the initial attack and then fade away only very slowly as the wine spreads out over the entire palate. Surprisingly fat and full in the mouth, and yet delicately, even ornately structured. This is an instant short course in complexity that even the neophyte could appreciate. What a great wine!
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Opened and paired with creme brulee for dessert, lovely nose of caramel, honey, and citrus, same on the palate, very tasty, favorable comments from everyone, great way to end the dinner.
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7 Vintages of Chateau Rieussec. (Walnut Creek, Ca.): Lovely honey and caramel on the nose, on the palate, big body, rich, honey taste, lovely taste, mouth filling fruit, needs 10 years to peak. My #2 of 7.
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Opened bottle to sample with discount if bought today, nose of caramel, honey, orange, and creme brulee, same on the palate, medium/big body, very tasty, sweet and rich but just the right amount, lovely, mouth filling fruit, but not too sweet, long finish, bought 3 half bottles.
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Opened 375ml bottle for dinner celebration at Yans. Nose of honey, orange, honeycomb, and creme brulee, same on the palate, medium/big body, very tasty, rich and mouth filling fruit with just the right amount of sweetness, and a long finish and flavorful aftertaste.
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With MPL at Singer & Foy tasting of Bordeaux blancs. Medium yellow. Pleasant nose. Nothing special. On the palate, good wine. Fair complexity, good finish. 5-9-15-6: 85/100.
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4/7/2024 - margaux321 wrote: 96 Points
Color, clear golden yellow; 1st nose, saffron; 2nd nose; caramelized apple; on the palate, pronounced saffron flavors, caramelized pearls, medium body with subtle sweetness. The star of the evening!!
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4/5/2024 - NiklasT Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious bottle as expected, served with mothers favorite dessert cake which was unfortunately to sweet for this profound and mature wine. Deep flavours of honey, overripe apples, nuts and delicate saffron. Maybe not as long and intense as I would have hoped even when drunk on its own. Excellent and a treat while not epic.
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4/2/2024 - Elliot Vale Likes this wine: 91 Points
5 bottles between July 2022 and March 2024 which were very consistent.
Mid golden colour, delicious lifted, honey nose. Great balance. Good acidity. To be picky it should be more concentrated for a higher score. Lacked a bit of body.
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3/26/2024 - BordeauxOne wrote: 99 Points
This is one of remaining (4) 1986 Chateau Rieussec bottles from a case purchased at The American Heart Association Auction in Baltimore hosted by the esteemed Robert Parker. Wow, what a return on my contribution. At age 38 this Sauternes is near perfection with decades left to go thanks to its' impeccable storage. I just drank a 2009 Château d'Yquem' the other evening and it is a younger brother to this most satisfying, easy to drink, most flavorful gift from above.
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11/25/2023 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 94 Points
Beautiful and expressive nose of apricot, caramel, lemon, peach, and minerals. It's very rich but balanced by acidity with flavors of grapefruit, more apricot, and minerals on the palate. Long finish. Really pretty wine that's drinking perfectly right now. It's very showy and a touch more acidity may have elevated this even more.
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11/14/2023 - NickA Likes this wine: 91 Points
67PM with Roger + friends (67 Pall Mall): Still a tasty wine, this bottle seemed slightly faded and lacked the expected impact. Gentle honeycomb and lime, good acidity, nicely sweet without being cloying. A highly pleasant end to the meal, then, without excitement.
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4/21/2023 - jonboy74 Likes this wine: 94 Points
A stellar showing, far exceeded expectations. Honeycomb, apricot, caramel, fantastic high acidity that really impressed even the neophytes in the group.
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2/27/2023 - GilmoroDelToro Likes this wine: 94 Points
New to old Sauternes. A really lovely wine though. Honeycomb, nuts and raisins, saffron and orange blossom, some melon, rich and luxurious. Still decent acidity. Was surprised at the vivacity. Really well balanced and a pleasure to drink.
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12/31/2022 - popasq Likes this wine: 90 Points
This bottle was past its peak, hopefully this was just that bottle.
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9/27/2022 - btock wrote: 96 Points
I thought this was just superb. Had a verve and lift to it that separates for me great Sauternes from just nicely aged, etc. Balanced, some confectioner's sugar and deftly weighted. Just a pleasure. Richer golden color but danced on the palate. Loved it.
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9/27/2022 - rocknroller wrote: 94 Points
Lonny Should Turn 65 More Often (The Kenwood, Mpls, MN): Amber color. PNP, drank a glass over 30 minutes. Maybe the best bottle to date. This was delicious and showing very well. Creamy, orange creamsicle, baked apricots, apple peel, honey, apple blossoms, unctuous, long and showing nice spice on the finish. 93+ to 94pts.
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4/16/2022 - popasq Likes this wine: 94 Points
Continue to be fantastic.
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9/30/2021 - aagrawal wrote: 92 Points
Surprisingly, 14.3% alcohol. Golden-orange, excellent color for its age and not at all heading into tawny; aromatic, orange blossom, floral, honey; palate is medium-full bodied, retains some sweetness of youth but it has integrated and comes off very elegant, medium-plus acidity which balances but doesn't leap off the page, 14.3% alcohol is well balanced, orange and some citrus rind, some baking spice with cardamom, less saffron; finish is medium length. Rieussec with age is always enjoyable, as it sheds its intense sweetness and dense mouthfeel and becomes an elegant, mature wine. This bottle certainly reflects that evolution and seems at early maturity, though honestly will continue to evolve for another decade. A bit less complex on the nose and palate as top examples of aged Rieussec. 92
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4/22/2021 - SARED wrote: 93 Points
92-93. Out of 750 taking on some brown amber tones. Lovely complexity of fruit on the palate and not cloying sweetness. Viscous mouthfeel (not oily). Lacks some acidity. If it had some more acidity, this could be a 95+.. but it doesn't have that next level acidity unfortunately. Paired better with a weaker blue cheese than the stronger blue cheese; couldn't match the stronger cheese.
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2/9/2021 - jvphoto Likes this wine: 92 Points
375ml
Copper/amber color. Nose was less compelling mostly sweet prunes, rum soaked raisin, coffee. Palate a lot more intersting that wasn't overly sweet, still had nice acidity and touches of lemon, orange marmalade & honey.
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12/25/2020 - mariow Likes this wine: 95 Points
a perfect bottle 0,375; dark amber color; nose of almond, raisins, honey; creamy on the palate, some saffron, creme brûlée, amazing sweetness, not blunt at all but well supported; absolutely the best bottle from this case; must be at its peak now, but no hurry
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12/24/2020 - wineforth Likes this wine: 94 Points
1st of 3 bottles bought recently. Base of neck. Cork was dry needed the Butlers friend. Despite doubts about storage the wine is fine. Nose is initially a big hazelnut botrytis then an hour later caramel. Big sweet complex body, cut through with pineapple acidity. The 80's were excellent for Rieussec and have been drinking this well for 20 years. Expect this to go on well for another 20. Father Xmas may have to make do with the sherry.
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12/5/2020 - Strohecker Likes this wine:
Stunning wine. Aromas of tropical fruit gave way to creme brûlée and layered botrytis. Fantastically long finish with balanced acidity. Could have aged longer, but oh so perfect now.
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8/22/2020 - Be.Lee Likes this wine: 89 Points
some secondary characteristics showing. surprisingly limited amount of botrytis given its aging. refreshing, still somewhat young sauterne.
would continue to see how this progress.
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8/10/2020 - Enfant sauvage Likes this wine:
This was really excellent - complex and layered. That said, I think my palate is a bit more attuned to Barsac and this felt just a little thick and cloying. If I ever go into a diabetic coma, however, this is my preferred way to be revived - please take note.
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2/2/2020 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
Taking on a golden, coppery hue, the wine is all about its caramel, molasses, honeyed apricot, pineapple, creme brulee, and burnt sugar profile. Rich, sweet and fruity, there is ample freshness that keeps all that luscious textured, honeyed tropical fruit in check.
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5/30/2019 - Billigan Likes this wine: 94 Points
This was just dynamite and a big improvement from a bottle had 5 years ago. Much more expressive notes of toffee and marmalade on the very giving nose. Just a light touch of botrytis here to give it some spice, but nothing heavy or cloying or overly honeyed as this was very fresh and compelling on the palate. Incredibly youthful showing, especially from a half-bottle, and another reminder of what an overlooked, underpriced category Sauternes has become.
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1/5/2019 - ericindc Likes this wine: 93 Points
The nose placed it firmly as in the early stages of maturity with vibrant spicy and fruity nose with some light butterscotch. Strong fruits, light caramel and butterscotch with brown sugary notes. Medium bodied with stronger acidity. Can drink now, but considerable upside if you wait 10+ years.
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12/31/2018 - Old Claret Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very good, but not special.
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12/31/2018 - shorty01 Likes this wine: 93 Points
After hibernating in my cellar for almost 30 years, I finally pulled the cork on this beauty. My experience with Sauternes is very limited, but happy to have waited this long. Honey and lemon curd descriptors come to mind, with ample acidity to make for a nice refreshing finish. A perfect finale to a dinner with good friends.
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11/23/2018 - Richard P Howden Likes this wine: 93 Points
From 375. Beautiful golden color. Rich nose of cinnamon, cheesecake, honey, lemon, and a hint of portiness. Silky honeyed palate with sharp edge of botrytis, enough acid to refresh the finish. Extremely good now.
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11/22/2018 - vanpe003 wrote: 95 Points
From a 750ml bottle. Quite an improvement since the last time I had it 10 years ago. Amber in color. On the palate, this has filled out considerably. No more "gas / petrol/ shower curtain" notes. Instead, beautifully integrated with a honeyed character. Rich, but just enough sharpness on the mid-palate to keep it from being cloying. As expected, a very long finish. Great addition to the Thanksgiving Day table.
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8/12/2018 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
In marvelous condition. Darker amber, creme brulee nose, fresh acids that lift and define. A lot of pleasure, now and the next many years, though not sure it's going to improve. With a variety of desserts, this really popped with fresh berries, and even some melon. A touch of savory circles the nose on this giving it an air of grandeur.
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7/15/2018 - dharrison93 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Sexy & focused. Drank with friends at La La Tour d'Argent in Paris with foie gras appetizer, then finished at dessert with cheese.
Fully mature beautiful clear corn syrup color, called topaz by sommelier David Ridgway.
Laser precision nose of apricot, lychee and light honey, it lacked the caramel viscous weight one usually associates with aged Sauternes but was lightweight and delicious.
Dancing on the palate, the finish wasn't one, but rather a World Series game 7 in the 12th inning.
if a date, this was a sexy intellectual Harvard MBA McKinsey consultant turned afternoon sex kitten plaything you don't want to let go, Ever.
AAA+ Enjoyment to treasure now but easily has 20 years ahead.
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5/10/2018 - PanosKakaviatos Likes this wine: 95 Points
Château Margaux vertical dinner (Taberna Del Alabardero): I must confess, dear reader, to some palate fatigue after so many vintages of Château Margaux: Ah the sacrifices we make to share wine tasting notes on Cellar Tracker! 😳 Anyway, I just loved this Sauternes! A cooler vintage, combined with a warm terroir and that equals sheer pleasure. Crème brulée nose and the palate is lovely with tobacco leaf and tea leaf. You get the botrytis notes as well as agreeable sweetness. And a long finish. Bravo!
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3/11/2018 - fclarity wrote: 94 Points
From a nice looking 1/2 bottle, this wine had a deep gold/light orange center and yellow/clear rims. The high- intensity nose emanated honey, oranges, brown sugar, vanilla, and some white soil.
In the mouth, this wine was gorgeously balanced with lovely richness offset by solid acidity. There was tons of flavor and great length. While this had great presence, it came off as refined relative to say the 1976 which is so dramatic.
As one would expect, this wine improved with a couple hours of air. It is another winner from Rieussec which has produced so many lovely wines. While solidly in the zone now, it will last for decades.
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10/15/2017 - rexmerlot wrote: 92 Points
Clear dark orange gold colour. Clean nose of toffee and butterscotch. Very balanced, and nice acidity on palate. This could still wait years to drink. Unfortunately I only have the one bottle. Drank along side a 2001. Love drinking the older sauternes, but they are still great young.
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9/17/2017 - blanquito wrote: 91 Points
Jacques and Jill vist Denver (Denver): This bottle was fully mature, sporting a deep copper color. Highly aromatic, it as the essence of toffee and caramel, with terrific acidity and length but lacking some of the complexity and marine nuances that can make mature Sauternes so compelling.
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4/20/2017 - andtheodor wrote: 92 Points
At first a little volatile and sherried but freshens right up. Oranges, linen, butterscotch, apricot, zesty and alive. Good alone or with pumpkin pie.
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3/24/2017 - David_T Likes this wine: 91 Points
Drinking very well. Honey, minerals, a bit of caramel. Light acid/mineral structure. Not too sweet, nicely balanced. All things considered I'd drink sooner rather than later.
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1/23/2017 - redders Likes this wine: 92 Points
Remarkably pale for rieussec 30 years old. Beautiful nose , citrus bottytis with a hint of the usual barley sugar. Refined fresh well balanced. Lovely from a 375ml
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11/13/2016 - NilZ85 Likes this wine: 94 Points
From half bottle. Slight petrol note at first that disappeared in 3 minutes to reveal scents of honey bee wax, caramel, raisins and dry bark. Palate of sherry, caramel, honey and a short spicyness in the end. Loooong finish. Wine of the year so far. Totally destroyed the jj prüm auslese it was drunk alongside.
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10/2/2016 - mariow wrote: 91 Points
dark amber; broad sweetness with nice aromas; in good shape but lacks some complexity
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8/4/2016 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 92 Points
A private dinner (@ Home): Pristine bottle, level into neck. First from a recently acquired case. Rich, shimmering orange gold, not very deep by Rieussec's standards; the nose is light, but remarkably vivacious for a 30 year old Sauternes, it evokes the smells of a patisserie, vanilla and butter, honey, hint of spiced mango, deep; the palate is exceptionally vibrant and elegant (especially in light of the 14% ABV), only delicately sweet but very intense, with juicy fruit and vanilla from the new wood; finishes relatively dry with notable bitters, baked apple and cinnamon, and the flavour persistence is excellent. Not a very complex Rieussec at present, but it does have line and length. It improves markedly over 24 hours in the fridge, the palate becomes much sweeter, more tropical, and a lot richer. This has decades ahead of it.
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7/12/2016 - Vinterest Angus Likes this wine: 93 Points
For a 30th birthday. Still sensational, but needs drinking up.
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2/20/2016 - liber Likes this wine: 95 Points
11th of 12 - always good, but some bottles have been a tad sulphury, as in 2013, this one was stunning, fresh tropical fruit and peaches, very long, complex and fresh, presented more like the outstanding 88, and a step up on previous bottles. VF (18.5).
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1/19/2016 - dougie Likes this wine: 93 Points
Wow! Complex with sugar, but not heavy or syrupy.
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1/1/2016 - Rezy13 wrote:
Amber; apricot, pineapple, sweet honeyed botrytis; good density, a bit bitter on the finish; good.
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10/5/2015 - salil wrote: 91 Points
Leo's Blind Tasting Group - Oct '15 edition (Ben's): Second experience with this wine, again served blind by Ben, and my impressions are again very similar. A lighter, fresher expression of Sauternes with the usual tropical fruit/apricot marmalade/honeyed flavour profile, but the botrytis is dialed back a bit more here, and there's plenty of acidity cutting through the sweetness. Very nice.
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9/29/2015 - AtoZ wrote:
Excellent. Like the balance.
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5/16/2015 - blanquito wrote: 92 Points
Stellar Night of Bordeaux; 5/15/2015-5/17/2015 (NYC): Another terrific bottle of this. Not quite as saline and minerality as the best bottles are, this is still powerful, aromatic and svelte, filled with caramel, butterscotch hard candies, squash blossoms and mulled orange. Very nice.
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4/10/2015 - rexmerlot wrote: 90 Points
Very dark gold in colour. Nose of honey, and candied fruit. Nice acidity, and very balanced. Was not as blown away as I was expecting. I love sauternes young, was hoping it would provide much more complexity with age.
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2/26/2015 - luckywine Likes this wine: 92 Points
A tad more sugar than honey otherwise lovely acidity, apple and orange peel. Glad to have enjoyed this but it can spend another decade in the bottle.
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1/3/2015 - diggydan wrote: 94 Points
Yummy. Caramel and something like a japanese maitake broth on the nose. The acidity is paramount here, watering my mouth. Caramel and candied orange peel fill out the palate. The sweetness is moderate and so perfectly balanced between the acidity and savory tertiary notes.
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12/5/2014 - andtheodor wrote: 93 Points
Marshmallow, oyster, orange peel, good acidity, this is an excellent old Sauternes.
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12/4/2014 - blanquito wrote: 92 Points
More about power than nuance. Nose of orange, caramel and apples, with thrilling levels of acidity and burnt sugar. Smooth and long, very good with a long future ahead.
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10/3/2014 - nortonnose wrote: 94 Points
From 750ml. Consistent with my previous TN; this one showed even a tad better. I'm not surprised, given the larger format and the grandeur of the occasion and setting! With Ben, Kevin & Fred. Delightful!
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8/12/2014 - meqoubal36 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Quelle merveille ! Suave, doux, corsé, et si rare, si délicat, si profond... coco, ananas, agrumes, fruits à coque, dattes, miel, fleurs, tous les parfums de l'Arabie ne pourraient pas suffire à en exprimer la richesse, la quintessence... Et gras, opulent, ennivrant, drappé d'or et d'ambre comme une déesse immortelle... qui se dévoile au fil des gorgées... et distille dans l'air les parfums de sa chevelure parfumée... Délices... Le palais de l'homme qui boit devient jardin des délices, comme dans un vrai baiser profond, prolongé, langoureux et renouvelé... Rares sont les vins d'une telle teneur et d'une telle tenue...
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7/4/2014 - aagrawal wrote: 93 Points
Rieussec Tasting (Tom's House, Palo Alto): My #1, group's #1. Wonderful complexity on the nose with botrytis spice, youthful fruit; palate has exquisite balance, good persistence, medium complexity; medium long finish. A great example of youthful Sauternes. 93
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7/3/2014 - affordableCollector wrote: 91 Points
medium orange, in color. citrus, honey, licorice, brown sugar, on the nose. medium acid, on the finish.
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6/28/2014 - skurtz Likes this wine: 92 Points
Smells and tastes like caramel. Much drier that I expected from a Sauternes, a pleasant surprise. Lighter, a hint of acid and apple following the lingering caramel aftertaste. Perfect for sipping on a hot summer afternoon!
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6/10/2014 - Billigan Likes this wine: 91 Points
Lovely light copper hue. Aromas of marmalade, honey, some florals, and a bit of toffee, but not especially strong or expressive. Nice bit of botrytis spice and a smooth mouthfeel and enough cleansing acidity to keep you going back for another sip. Not an especially complex or powerful example of a mature Sauternes, but a screaming deal at $25 for a half bottle.
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5/18/2014 - amateurwino wrote:
Rust-colored. Not over the top on sweetness but this felt older to me than it was. This wine may have been a bit tired, or maybe it was me that was tired by this point in the evening. Pleasant but I didn't love it.
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5/18/2014 - salil wrote: 92 Points
Leo's Blind Tasting Group - May '14 edition (Ben's (NYC)): This comes across fresher and lighter on its feet than what I typically expect from most Sauternes; it's certainly quite sweet and intense, but there's really bright acidity beneath the ripe clementine, apricot and honey-tinged tropical fruit flavours. The botrytis here doesn't overwhelm, and it's one of the more light and elegant Sauternes I've come across in some time.
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4/6/2014 - mariow wrote: 91 Points
hard task with the cork; dark amber; honey, very broad sweetness, lacks some backbone; still great
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2/17/2014 - redders Likes this wine: 92 Points
classic copper old rieussec colour. Big and bold , loads of botrytis but still clean. Not the most subtle but still delicious.
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2/14/2014 - kevin h wrote: 91 Points
A half bottle and ideal level of maturity. Big and bold with some botrytis but whereas other Sauternes show apricot notes Rieussec is all orange. To smell and taste this is all marmalade, dark Oxford marmalade.
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12/19/2013 - nortonnose wrote: 93 Points
You need lovely aged sticky after a long night of 78 Mgx, 82 La Mish, 82 & 83 GL, 89 Lynch Bages, 90 Dominus and 01 Lafite, don't you!? This 750ml marked the spot. Bottle in good physical condition, stood for days. Popped and poured into decanter, then served. Nose of grilled, caramelized pineapple. A very soft, velvety Botrytis palate. The finish here was a touch disappointing, let's call it medium at best. Lovely dessert drink and no reason not to drink up
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11/26/2013 - Rezy13 Likes this wine: 94 Points
Tuesday Night Double Blind $40+ (Bin 75): From 750 mL; golden color with green hues, very youthful appearance; spicy pineapple, orange marmalade, apricot, white raisin; weighty, waxy, still fresh and new, still primary, good botrytis; beautiful wine with lots of potential yet.
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8/25/2013 - hiker_guy Likes this wine:
Dinner with friends last night.
Fantastic wine. Perfectly aged and hitting on all cylinder. Very long and delicious finish. Sweet without being cloying.
Would buy again.
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8/15/2013 - Ki Punwar Likes this wine: 93 Points
Fully mature. Nice notes of marmalade and orange peel, very sweet without being cloying. Long finish makes this enjoyable.
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8/10/2013 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Annual Wine Group Summer Event (Siggy & Jenny's Place, Mpls, MN): Lovely mature wine, almost understated in a subtle way. Consistent with previous notes. Excellent.
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3/3/2013 - fdusonchet Likes this wine: 95 Points
Magestueux note fumée de coins d'ananas de miel d'orange vinfute d'agrumes de cendre. Bouche riche mais dynamique souple et longue
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11/25/2012 - popasq wrote: 94 Points
Fabulous.
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10/28/2012 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Monthly Tasting Group: Bordeaux (Levain, Mpls): Amber color. Drank 1+ glass over 30+ minutes. This was showing quite nicely again. Classic aged Sauternes, apricots, honey, floral, smoky, a little peach pit. The palate is graceful, understated power, very well balanced, apricot, honey, spice, smoke, minerals. Long finish. Always a treat.
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9/7/2012 - fdusonchet Likes this wine: 95 Points
Il y a tous les fruits du monde dis se vin et on les degustes au milieu d'une foret avec une petit fumet de sous bois et de champinion
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7/29/2012 - Trickyone wrote:
Le (limite') Tour de France (Home): This was a great "closer" to our tasting. From the refrigerator, I let it warm up a few minutes before opening. The color surprised some of the guests, but I assured them the wine was probably going to be just fine; after all, reds lose color in the bottle and whites gain it. Being 26 years old, this one had turned a deep, rich brown. Botrytis was evident in the scent as soon as the cork was pulled and the wine did not disappoint. To me, one of the true miracles of wine is how the great botrytized wines can be so sweet without being cloying on the palate. Technically, I know it's the result of the acid in the grapes/wine, but to taste it in a wine like this still fills one with wonder. Some salty, grainy Maytag blue completed the experience. Life, for a while, was very good.
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7/15/2012 - Ltim BE wrote: 92 Points
Same experience as last bottle +/- 2 years ago. Stunning nose of apricot marmelade with a nice acidity on the palate, not cloying or overly sweet. Just perfect. I love Rieussec.
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5/5/2012 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 89 Points
Killer Bordeaux Tasting (Kevin's House (Minneapolis)): Past peak. Dried appricots, pinneapple, floral and burnt toast. Lacking acidity and medium finish.
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4/28/2012 - rocknroller wrote: 93 Points
Big Bordeaux III - Kickin' Ass & Takin' Names: Stunning Wines from 1986, 1990, 1996 + 2002 Cristal (Rocknroller's (Kevin's)): Beautiful amber color. Pop and pour. Nose shows rich notes of apricot, honey, white flowers, botrytis, hints of peach. The palate is bright and concentrated, prominent acid, not overtly sweet, apricot, floral, a little peach, spicy, some botrytis on the finish. A lovely aged Sauternes!
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12/23/2011 - phansen wrote: 88 Points
nice
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8/11/2011 - lepetitchateau wrote: 95 Points
One taster below called this too young, another called it too old! I call it Fantastic! Waves of sweetness and complexity to this, not cloying nor overly heavy. Right now it is mature and very enjoyable.
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5/31/2011 - DaleW wrote:
Generous, good acidity, nice length.
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3/26/2011 - jkoenen wrote: 92 Points
Rieussec Vertical (Vini di Domani, Eksel): Brought this to our grand Rieussec-tasting. Non-blind.
Beautiful notes of warm fruit. The changing policy of oak-use/elevation is starting to show. It adds an obvious vanilla/coconut/cinnamon-seasoning to the tropical scents. Great if you like your Sauternes young (!) and sweet. But I'll bury my remaining bottles for another 3-5 years. 18/20
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1/25/2011 - MRichman wrote:
"The Good Stuff" 2011 -- A double blind tasting (La Fonda del Sol, NYC): Nice. Ready to drink.
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1/5/2011 - maryjmess wrote:
Wine was past its peak but still a decent expression of nuttiness and good acidity . Sorry I did not open it sooner.
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12/30/2010 - StefanAkiko wrote: 90 Points
*Golden colour.
**Chest nuts, apricot, abundant botrytis. Not large and impressing enough for the name.
***Started out with murky wooden notes but came around in the glass already after 20 minutes. Great pleasure with the typical power of R. Nice acids rounding off everything and length enough to iron a shirt in between sips but not the high level of complexity usually found in the more graced sweeties.
****Still youthful and very appealing. For a R it's good, but not great. They can do better than this. (Was afraid it was already going down - and this was from a 1/2-btl.)
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11/29/2010 - Zweder wrote: 94 Points
Amber golden color. In the bouquet orange peel, marzipan, coconut and even some licorice. On the palate honey, pineapple and apricots. Good concentration and balance between the intense sweetness and the acidity. Elegance as well. From this 0.75 bottle no signs of old age at all.
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11/5/2010 - Ltim BE wrote: 92 Points
Lovely apricot nose orange-zest marmelade, honey and caramel notes. Lovely taste, not overly sweet but with a nice acidity and a lovely touch of orange zest making the whole very balanced. A great expression. Is just perfect with a Wittamer Orange Bavarois. Life is beautiful.
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10/22/2010 - Argrath wrote: 89 Points
(Old note)
Developed nose of dried fruit, wet paper, minerals and burned cola.
Very developed palate. Almost medium-sweet in flavour. Apricot marmelade, botrytis, mineral and rubber suit. Rather too developed for our tastes.
Tasted blind and compared with 1996 Rieussec and 2006 Rieussec, we came to the conclusion that this was a bit too old for us. Dryish and too much rubber. A bit thin as well. But then again, not the best of vintages.
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10/3/2010 - Rupert wrote: 90 Points
Round, tangy, big, in the Rieussec way still vigorous
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8/14/2010 - jackarmando wrote: 91 Points
Delicious. Lacks some balance.
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7/31/2010 - Bordeauxman wrote: 92 Points
Golden color. Delicious nose of honey & pineapple & melon. Intense taste of sweet papaya, melon, honey and pineapple. I think this wine is nearing the end of its peak performance.
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7/18/2010 - tomandlu wrote: 94 Points
Deep gold color. Complex, balanced nose of orange, lemon, flowers, caramel and lanolin. Equally complex on the palate with intense honey and botrytis. The acidity and sugar are in perfect balance. Long, candied finish. A textbook, outstanding Sauternes. Drank at Ron Hodges' house.
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6/26/2010 - DrT999 wrote: 91 Points
On opening, light apricot and butterscotch nose. Tangerine and green apple, with v. good acidity and excellent length.
+60 minutes. The nose is much the same, but there are hints of honey throughout the wines, esp on the finish in addition to the fruit.
+120 minutes. A little honey added to the nose, and it dominates the long finish as well.
+180 minutes. Still nicely balalnced between the fruit, honey, and acidity. Still a nice long finish.
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3/27/2010 - gripNsip wrote: 90 Points
From 750 mL: Beautiful nose, reduced brown sugar and pineapple, dried mushrooms and a bunch of honey. Similar palate with some sharp acidity throught the entire experience. Nice weight and feel as you would expect from this producer, yet I felt this came off as slightly boring. Nice long finish again here, but that sharp acidity wasn't doing it for me, and there was a slight hit of booze on the finish that was noticable. Still a very tasty wine no doubt.
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3/27/2010 - tomandlu wrote: 88 Points
Mature Bordeaux at David's (David Paris's place): Moderate caramel color. Very sweet on the nose with aromas of butterscotch, violets, candied citrus and almonds. Unctuous and complex on the palate with all the usual Rieussec fruit groups present - tangerine, pineapple, mango, lychee - but lacking in acidity to pull it all together. All in all a very good but not quite outstanding Rieussec.
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3/27/2010 - David Paris (dbp) wrote: 93 Points
Blind Mature Bordeaux, 1966-1995 (My house): Great, delicious nose, some house paint, rich pineapple on the grill (with caramelized outside), green apple skin, and kiln dried clay. Deep palate, very creamy and soft. Nice zing on the finish of this pleasing wine. I had this a few weeks earlier, but this was a better showing... really delicious.
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1/9/2010 - mariow wrote: 93 Points
brilliant dark gold, almost amber; interesting nose, caramel, coffee; well balanced on the palate, sweet caramel but well supported by acids; a great pleasure which should hold for another five years
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12/26/2009 - Traxx wrote: 95 Points
Gorgeous yellow color, nice texture. Typical nose of apricots and honey, amazing mouth-feel. A great bottle of wine, a true pleasure to share with family.
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9/7/2009 - g-man wrote: 94 Points
Picked this up at auction for $50 and what a bargain! Unctious creamy texture and notes of caramel and creme brulee. Just a joy to drink!
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8/16/2009 - Zweder wrote: 92 Points
Honey, tangerine, orange peel, polishing wax. All very well balanced and also elegant. The balance between sweetness and acidity is beautiful.
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7/31/2009 - HamishR wrote: 93 Points
Great, lovely structure, some firmness, sweet, not cloying, peach, long finish. Excellent!
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4/6/2009 - mmasterson wrote: 91 Points
Pleasant half bottle, but a little too much burnt sugar instead of a more balanced sweetness. Still, a nice bottle to cap off a nice meal...and could work nicely with certain meals.
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3/2/2009 - balkmr@hotmail.com wrote: 90 Points
Just a lot going on. Nose of orange blossom, gasoline and honey. Taste of honey, fig, dried apricots and melted spatula plastic. On the sweetness scale, this is on the downward slide. But there is enough acidity to carry all these flavors. Long finish, around 60 sec. From 375ml.
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2/15/2009 - ginfizz wrote: 92 Points
A nice half bottle, on par with previous tasting notes.
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2/14/2009 - Dave Dalluge wrote: flawed
Corked.
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2/8/2009 - Chrisinroch wrote: 88 Points
Didnt blow me away but it was good
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1/15/2009 - bon vivant wrote:
Still light in color and surprisingly young tasting as well. Everything is here and the wine shows excellent balance. I would classify this as medium intensity with lovely nuances and spice. This would probably be an excellent candidate for some more aging though very enjoyable tonight.
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12/31/2008 - vanpe003 wrote: 91 Points
New Year's Week 2008/9; 12/28/2008-1/4/2009 (Northwoods): No detailed notes. Relative dark golden in color. Was better after some time open. Nice depth, but not to the level of some top Sauternes.
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12/19/2008 - Kirk Grant wrote: 91 Points
What a lovely example of aged Sauternes. Scents of honey comb, botrytis, and orange rind...in the mouth there is still great acidity that caresses the palate as layers of honey, nectarine, and caramel extend through a long finish...paired with almonds, figs, and a chamomile vanilla rissoto. A wonderful experience. (Tasted from a 375ml)
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12/9/2008 - mhurford wrote:
definitely past best - poor storage at some stage accelerated aging?
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12/7/2008 - mhurford wrote: 87 Points
Fruit and richness fading - on the decline
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11/25/2008 - Siggy wrote:
Tasting Group Dinner - Northern Rhône (Fugaise, Minneapolis): From 375ml. I didn't focus too much on this wine, but it was a nicely mature Sauternes with a thick, viscous palate of orange and dried apricot.
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11/25/2008 - Dave Dalluge wrote:
Mpls does Northern Rhone (Chave, Guigal, Jaboulet, Chapoutier, Clape, more): From 375. Popped and poured. An excellent bottle. Expressive nose of citrus and apricot. Thick and syrupy on the palate but with enough acidity to keep it lively and balanced. Burnt orange flavors are excellent. Awesome stuff. Glad I've got a few more.
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5/10/2008 - djdaqm wrote: 93 Points
Wonderful balance of citrus and sweetness. Full of apricot marmalade.
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4/8/2008 - vanpe003 wrote: 92 Points
From a 750. Day 1 - I was going to go with "gas / petrol" to describe a component of the palate, but an earlier reviewer's reference to "vinyl shower curtain" is much more on the mark. Good acidity, fairly low on the sweetness scale. A person preferring that style might score this higher. For my tastes, I prefer something in a bit sweeter, richer style. I have no basis to judge aging potential, but this doesn't seem to be in any danger of fading in the near-term. To that point, better on the second day (more aromatic, a bit sweeter on the palate with notable hints of pear/peaches, more velvety mouthfeel). 90 pts day 1, 92-93 day 2.
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2/3/2008 - dougie wrote: 93 Points
both bottles were consistent. Drink last one later this year.
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2/3/2008 - dougie wrote: 93 Points
Amazing flavors. Very complex and deep. Beautiful medium amber. I will not wait longer due to it not being really sweet. But, enough surgar for now. A wonderful aged sauterne!
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1/21/2008 - Demisec wrote: 94 Points
Approaching full maturity. Some disagreement about the degree of botrytis, but the wine has indeed developed the complexity that one would hope for.
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1/2/2008 - Herb K wrote:
Drank on New Year's Eve and it was fully mature: Very round and nice carmel color. Not refined like an d'Yquem or even one of the single vineyard Delevaux selections or a Zind Humbrecht SGM, but very enjoyable and a good value. I've hd it in my cellar for a long, long time....
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11/25/2007 - MRichman wrote:
Very nice, fully mature and ready to go. Good carmel, and orange peel with just enough sweetness. A lovely bottle.
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5/18/2007 - mburleigh wrote: 94 Points
This was very tasty and appreciated by all. Nice dark amber color with complex fruit flavors. Nice bouquet smell, orange, nut, smooth, lingering taste.
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11/21/2006 - Rupert wrote: 91 Points
Chateau Rieussec vertical (Bentley Hotel, London): Another one with a hint of waxiness, but altogether fresher on the palate than the preceding wines, dried fruits
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8/26/2006 - ml wrote:
I'm wondering if the bottle we tasted from was in some way flawed, perhaps oxidized, since it doesn't seem to match the tasting notes here. This bottle had just a hint of botrytis. It had a noticible taste of Semillon and a very nutty taste. It was pretty dry - very little sugar. I find the idea that it was oxidized unlikely, though - the cork was tighter than anything I've ever seen of this age, and it was in really great shape.
An enigma!
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8/8/2006 - Nanda wrote: 94 Points
Polygamists Dinner at Michael's (Winnetka, IL): Dark gold with a powerful, restrained nose of boytris, honey and orange. Unctuous texture with well-timed acidity offering just enough balance.
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4/10/2006 - Blair Curtis wrote: 94 Points
A 1986 Bordeaux Horizontal with The Commanderie de Bordeaux (Vancouver): A waxy, pineapple and lightly honeyed nose leads into a palate featuring nice botrytis, a heady wine with good sweetness but healthy acids too. Great balance overall. This is my style of Sauternes.
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10/9/2005 - Eric wrote:
Tasting of 80's Bordeaux at Seattle Wine Storage (Seattle, WA): Explosive, caramel, coconut. A little light on acid, but this is nice.
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1/15/2005 - Jason wrote: 90 Points
Dinner at Bern's Steak House (Tampa Florida): Ordered from the list for $110. Only a Sauternes can make me love the smell of vinyl shower curtain. The nose had that and orange peel. The palate was smooth, well integrated, and a little simple. It is not as sweet as some vintages, but it was a terrific way to end the night.
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11/25/2004 - CSteefel wrote: 94 Points
Bright gold in color. On the nose, exotic, highly nuanced notes of orange peel, peach, and melon. In the mouth, vibrant flavors of orange and peach emerge on the initial attack and then fade away only very slowly as the wine spreads out over the entire palate. Surprisingly fat and full in the mouth, and yet delicately, even ornately structured. This is an instant short course in complexity that even the neophyte could appreciate. What a great wine!
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8/9/2003 - Eric wrote:
Seattle Tasting Group does Northern Rhône (Bellevue, WA, USA): Gorgeous, orange peel. A nice way to finish the tasting.
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1/5/2003 - mariow wrote: 92 Points
a very great wine
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11/11/2001 - dbg wrote:
excellent balance, nice botrytis, good length
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5/21/2001 - tendring wrote:
Wine Education Service - White Bordeaux: Gold.
Beeswax nose.
Sweet but not cloying.
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1/19/2001 - mariow wrote: 90 Points
dark gold; great sweetness, well balanced, little acids, rich
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12/24/1996 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened and paired with creme brulee for dessert, lovely nose of caramel, honey, and citrus, same on the palate, very tasty, favorable comments from everyone, great way to end the dinner.
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11/1/1996 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 94 Points
7 Vintages of Chateau Rieussec. (Walnut Creek, Ca.): Lovely honey and caramel on the nose, on the palate, big body, rich, honey taste, lovely taste, mouth filling fruit, needs 10 years to peak. My #2 of 7.
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12/13/1994 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened bottle to sample with discount if bought today, nose of caramel, honey, orange, and creme brulee, same on the palate, medium/big body, very tasty, sweet and rich but just the right amount, lovely, mouth filling fruit, but not too sweet, long finish, bought 3 half bottles.
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10/26/1994 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened 375ml bottle for dinner celebration at Yans. Nose of honey, orange, honeycomb, and creme brulee, same on the palate, medium/big body, very tasty, rich and mouth filling fruit with just the right amount of sweetness, and a long finish and flavorful aftertaste.
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9/8/1989 - MicklethePickle Likes this wine: 85 Points
With MPL at Singer & Foy tasting of Bordeaux blancs. Medium yellow. Pleasant nose. Nothing special. On the palate, good wine. Fair complexity, good finish. 5-9-15-6: 85/100.
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