Carmes de Rieussec 2024

Characteristics and tasting advice for Carmes de Rieussec 2024 from Château Rieussec

Tasting

Appearance
This wine reveals a bright, radiant appearance of great clarity.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet is precise, releasing fragrances of white flowers and fresh citrus. Indulgent notes of candied grapefruit zest, fresh mango, and subtle hints of honey enrich this superb aromatic palette.

Palate
On the palate, the attack is pure and full of elegance. The sweetness, delicate and perfectly integrated, is balanced by a lively, taut structure that brings plenty of energy. Lemony flavors intertwine with fine woody accents, offering a profile that is at once modern, refined, and highly approachable.

Food and wine pairings

This great sweet wine pairs wonderfully with foie gras, duck-based dishes, or even roasted poultry with mild spices. It also creates superb contrasts with seafood, particularly oysters, spicy Asian dishes, as well as blue cheeses such as Roquefort.

Other characteristics

This sweet wine has an alcohol content of 13.5% vol. Its total acidity is 4 g/L with a pH of 3.8. Finally, its sweetness is expressed through a residual sugar content of 119 g/L.

A full-bodied and radiant Sauternes Second Wine by Château Rieussec

The estate

Located in the Bordeaux region, Château Rieussec traces its origins back to the 18th century, founded by the Carmelite monks of Langon. Recognized as a Premier Grand Cru Classé in 1855, this iconic estate has belonged to Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite since 1984. With an extensive vineyard, the property stands out for its environmental commitment, obtaining organic certification in 2024. Château Rieussec produces sweet wines of remarkable precision, combining tradition and modernity, and stands as a benchmark of its appellation.

The vineyard

Located at the crossroads of the communes of Fargues and Sauternes, the vineyard covers 85 hectares. Rising to nearly 78 meters in altitude, the vines thrive on soils composed mainly of gravel over a clay-sandy subsoil. This terroir benefits from full grass cover and organic farming practices, promoting biodiversity and soil health.

The wine

Carmes de Rieussec is the Second Wine of Château Rieussec.

The vintage

The year began with a particularly rainy winter, totaling more than 600 mm of precipitation, accompanied by mild temperatures. After a slight, harmless frost episode in April, the mild and humid spring led to significant mildew pressure, particularly on Sauvignon Blanc. Flowering experienced some coulure and millerandage. The hot, dry summer resulted in slow berry ripening. Harvests began early in August, punctuated by September rains, marking an unprecedented event: the overlap of harvests for sweet wines and those intended for dry whites.

Winemaking and aging

As soon as they arrive at the cellar, the grapes intended for Carmes de Rieussec 2024 are immediately pressed. After careful settling, the must is transferred into oak barrels to undergo fermentation. Each plot benefits from tailored pressing and vinification. The wines are then aged on lees with regular bâtonnage until mid-December. After a resting period, they are racked and blended before returning to barrels for approximately twelve months of aging.

Grape varieties

This blend is composed of 77% Sémillon, 17% Sauvignon Blanc, and 6% Muscadelle.