Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Dessert last night was a layered, guava, mango, raspberry, passion fruit cheesecake. I did a dual pair with 14 Kobalt Sauvignon Blanc and this 83 Rieussec Sauternes. The 83 won hands down.

Look at that color! 👀 The older they are, the darker they get. I’ve seen one nearly black, a 1928 D'yquem a number of years back. A good producer/vintage of Sauternes will out live almost anyone’s life span properly stored. This 35 year old 375ml was no exception to that rule.

The nose reveals; brown sugar, molasses, dried; pineapple, apricots, peaches, nectarines, orange citrus, touch of light colored citrus’s, marmalade, mixed nuts with skin, toffee, caramel, tea notes, soft limestone minerals, gravel with pebbles and dark withering flowers/lilies.

The body is full, rich and gorgeous. The palate is nicely integrated and complex. The fruits are a combination of candies and dried. Brown sugar, raw sugar cane, molasses, dried; pineapple, apricots, peaches, nectarines, mango, prunes & dates. Candied, lemon, lime & grapefruit. Orange citrus, marmalade, honeycomb, mixed nuts with skin, toffee, caramel, Lipton tea notes, soft limestone minerals, gravel with pebbles and dark withering flowers, yellow & orange lilies. The acidity is like a rain shower and the elegant, rich, well balanced and polished finish lingers on your palate and dances mentally in your brain. There is also granulated sugar on the palate. Huge RS!

Producer notes...Rieussec is aged in an average of 50% new, French oak barrels for 18 to 24 months, depending on the character of the vintage. Chateau Rieussec is owned by the Lafite side of the Rothschild family and all their used oak barrels come from Chateau Lafite.

Photos of; Chateau Rieussec, grapes awaiting the onset of botrytis, their roughly 25-30 year Estate vines and their barrel room. — 7 years ago

Marc Poirier

9.0

Experience spéciale pour les amateurs de rhum ! Petit goût de vieux porto .., — 8 years ago

Phil Dolcemascolo

9.0

Enjoyed it with a beautiful filet. — 9 years ago

Michael Adelman

9.5

Such a treat... A cognac drinker's rum... Or an after dinner drink for those in need ... Shows the love . Such a treat!!!!! — 9 years ago

Luis Arguero (@winefromAtoZ)

8.9

Wedding rum! Viva Cuba — 10 years ago

Lindsey Arata

10

Favorite rum, perfect in a dark and stormy (ice, rum, ginger beer and dash of lime if you like) — 10 years ago

Adam Usdan

9.0

Smooth, nutmeg, allspice, cinnamon - very drinkable — 7 years ago

Aivars Lode

9.4

A cognac esk rum delectable — 7 years ago

Nick Bowen

9.0

Smells super jammy and delicious. Medium to full body. Sweet and fruity then transitions to dry and slightly acidic. Dryness lingers. Great for a twist top. Would pay $15 per. — 8 years ago

Nick Davis

9.5

Fluffy, supple, honeyed. — 9 years ago

with Emily

Brandon Luedeker

9.5

Excellent run full of flavor. Smooth finish! — 9 years ago

Dawn Eastridge

10

Fell in love with the dark rum, Havana Club Aged 7 Years, back in 2003. Received this bottle and the other as a birthday gift earlier this year... Both are smooth and clean with great flavors. — 10 years ago

Nigel Stuke

9.0

Smell: Grassy, cinnamon, orange peel, dried banana chips, slight alcoholic heat. Taste: Grassy, cinnamon or nutmeg style spice. Medium texture. I'm impressed. — 10 years ago

Michał Ptaszek

9.1

First day without Karolina (her Patagonia trip). Cooking burgers and chilling out — 7 years ago

Shengli Hu

9.0

Lemon, pear, intensely aromatic, acidic, vanilla and caramel. Lighter body. — 8 years ago

Evan Bloom

9.3

Now this is a nice sipping rum- mature mildly caramelized flavors with spice and earthy components to pair synergistically with your quality cigar. Indulgence. — 8 years ago

Nigel Stuke

9.4

A very good example of what agricole can be. Smells earthy, dirty. Tastes like leather. Smokey long woodyness aftertaste. Extremely long finish. One of my favorites. — 9 years ago

James Heygate-Browne

9.4

Mellow, harmonious, sweet, irresistible! — 9 years ago

Gerry

9.0

Smooth, light, not oaky. Would buy again. — 10 years ago

Michael Brughelli

9.2

Bright candied cherry, coriander, sandalwood, five spice, black pepper. Vibrant and fruit driven. Ben Cane getting it done in 2012. — 10 years ago