Château Rieussec

Owned by Domaines Barons de Rothschild since 1984, Château Rieussec is located in the heart of the Sauternes vineyard. In the 18th century, the Rieussec estate belonged to the Carmelite monks of Langon, and at the 1855 classification the quality of the Rieussec terroir was recognised there as a Premier Cru Classé of Sauternes and Barsac.
The vineyard extends at the junction of Fargues and Sauternes, the vines covering 93 ha of gravel soils, felted with silt. Sémillon, the emblematic grape variety of Sauternes, dominates (90%), complemented by Sauvignon (7%) and Muscadelle (3%). The techniques used are traditional in the Sauternais, and the harvest takes place in several successive sortings according to the ripeness of the grapes and the development of Botrytis cinerea (noble rot). It is spread over 6 to 8 weeks, from September to November.
The château’s second wine, Carmes de Rieussec, is selected from the same base as the Grand Vin. Rieussec also produces, in limited quantity, a dry white wine, “R” de Rieussec.