Chateau Rieussec Sauternes (Futures Pre-sale) 2011

"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.
Barrel Sample: 95-97 Points "

97 Points

Wine Enthusiast

"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?
Barrel Sample: 96-97 Points"

97 Points

James Suckling

"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.
Barrel Sample: 93-96 Points"

96 Points

Wine Spectator

"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.
Range: 91-94"

94 Points

International Wine Cellar

"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+.
Barrel Sample: 91-93 Points"

93 Points

The Wine Advocate