1983 Château Rieussec Sauternes Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note
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This bottle was in outstanding condition. Coppery, orange in color, the perfume showed off its apricot, creme de caramel, butterscotch, candied orange and honeyed apricot profile easily. Lifted, energetic, yellow and orange honeyed fruits and molasses with caramel notes finished this sweet treat off. This is not a wine to hold for more development. If you are sitting on any, you should drink these sooner than later before the sweetness and fruits fade. 4,325 Views Tasted Oct 20, 2020Deep in color, with an orange, copper, caramel color, the nose caught you with its orange marmalade, apricot, pine, flower. honey and caramel aromas. Fully mature, if not slightly past that point, the sweetness is starting to fade and the secondary orange, creme brulee and butterscotch notes are becoming more apparent. 5,470 Views Tasted Dec 15, 2015With more attention focused on burnt caramel, petrol and creme brulee than fresh honeyed fruits, this is on the slow, downward side of life. Still a treat, with its honeyed orange marmalade and tropical fruit finish, this is not a wine I'm going to continue to hold. 5,242 Views Tasted May 11, 2013Filled with caramel, crème brulee, tropical fruit, spice, apricot and honey, this Sauternes is fully mature and could be starting to fade. I’d opt for drinking this sooner than later. 6,488 Views Tasted May 9, 2012 |
When to Drink Chateau Rieussec, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time
Chateau Rieussec can be enjoyed on the young side with no decanting. In fact, it is delicious and quite a treat young, even on release! However, like all great wines, Chateau Rieussec is much better with age and does not reach full maturity until it's between 15-35 years of age, or in some years, perhaps even longer in the best vintages! That is when the magic happens!
But that is unrealistic for 99% of the world's wine drinkers. So, enjoy it on any special occasion that calls for it.
Of course, the wine is sweet, but there is so much, incredible, racy acidity, the wine always feels fresh, and never cloying, which makes it quite fun to enjoy young. With Chateau Rieussec and frankly, all Sauternes, the temperature is more important than decanting.
Serving Chateau Rieussec with Wine and Food Pairings
Chateau Rieussec is best served at 14 degrees Celsius, 57 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. The wine will naturally warm in the glass, while it develops more aromatic complexities and fleshes out.
Chateau Rieussec can be served with seafood dishes, especially shellfish, lobster, crab, and oysters on the half shell. Foie gras is a perfect pairing with its natural sweet, salty and savory characteristics. Chateau Rieussec can also be paired with roasted chicken, veal, and pork dishes that are either spicy or prepared with a touch of sweetness.
Spicy Asian cuisine, raw fish, like sushi or sashimi, and cheese, both hard and soft also make great pairings with Chateau Rieussec.