Chateau Rieussec Sauternes 1er Grand Cru Classe 2016

97 Points Wine Enthusiast Made by the Lafite-Rothschild team, this is a powerfully dense wine. It has intense botrytis and fine acidity, as well as sumptuous ripe marmalade and apricot flavors. This is certainly for long-term aging.

97 Points Jeb Dunnuck A step up over the Carmes de Rieussec, the beautiful 2016 Château Rieussec has remarkable purity and freshness while still packing beautiful depth of fruit. Honeyed peach, apricot, flower oil, and even a hint of wet stone all emerge from this full-bodied, thick, opulent effort. I love it. It has a rounded, sexy style ideal for drinking any time over the coming 15-20 years. The 2016 is a final blend of 83% Sémillon, 12% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Muscadelle.

96 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate A barrel sample blended of 83% Sémillon, 12% Sauvignon Blanc and 5% Muscadelle, the 2016 Rieussec is pale to medium lemon colored with a touch of gold. The nose features intense honeycomb, mandarin peel, candied ginger and lemongrass scents with wafts of allspice and musk perfume. The palate is very rich, full and opulent with tons of spicy layers and a lively line to lift the densely packed fruit to a long finish.

96 Points Decanter A great Sauternes with a wonderful brightness and freshness, this gathers speed through the palate, developing flavours of cinnamon, caramel, white pepper, clove and smoked pineapple, all wrapped in an extremely silky texture. It's still in barrel, and will be for another few months. Around 50% new oak.

93 Points Wine Spectator Quite fresh, with acacia and honeysuckle notes out front, followed by a stream of mirabelle plum, yellow apple, pineapple and white peach flavors. Offers an unctuous feel on the finish while staying on the brighter side. Among the top efforts in the vintage. Best from 2022 through 2035.