1997 Ch. Rieussec

[Roy Hersh]

It is da bomb. When it warms up from a solid chill, it is something to behold.

[Ray Barnes]

Hi Roy, thanks for sharing this - since that is also my daughter's birth year, I'm very curious as to how much this might cost, if available anywhere. Good to hear of something strong out of Europe besides VP for that year.

Cheers,
Ray (still doing tax returns)

[Carl D]

It is da bomb. When it warms up from a solid chill, it is something to behold.

We had a bottle of this a couple years back (although I can't swear it was this same year - we weren't keeping records of the wine we bought/consumed back then) and it was, truly, da bomb! I'd love to get a few more bottles of this.

[Ray Barnes]

I have to give you both props for showing respect for Sauternes. I've never tasted Ch. Rieussec, but have had the 2005 Ch. Guiraud, and that was pretty sensational - and at $66 a full bottle very reasonable too.

[Carl D]

I did a little follow-up research on this wine. I was just certain that the bottle we had was 1997 or 1999, but the collection of corks in my cellar says otherwise - it was the 2005. Looking on wine-searcher, I found many bottles of this wine from many vintages, most priced very reasonably.

[Roy Hersh]

Grab some 2001 while you are at it, the greatest recent vintage since 1990.

[Carl D]

Grab some 2001 while you are at it, the greatest recent vintage since 1990.

The prices on wine-searcher agree with you, with this vintage coming in at 2x - 3x higher price than most other available vintages. Yet another bottle to add to the "want" list.

[Carl D]

Roy, have you tried the Chateau Suduiraut Sauternes? I see that one as very much a peer of the Ch. Rieussec, based on available TNs, reviews and online prices. We haven't had it, but if I do get a bottle of the '01 Rieussec, I'd be very tempted to pick up one of these to keep it company in the cellar!

We've only barely scratched the surface of these wines, but I've really enjoyed the few that we've opened so far.

[Ray Barnes]

I find it a delicious irony that a Sauternes Premier Cru (aside from Chateau d'Yquem, classified Premier Cru Superieur) typically is offered for sale for between 10 to 20% of the price of a Medoc First Growth or St. Emilion Class A offering. Who says all Bordeaux wines are overpriced?