Location and Vineyards
Château Rieussec is located at the transition between Fargues de Langon and Sauternes in the Sauternes appellation, adjoining Château d’Yquem. The 85-hectare vineyard stretches across these two areas. The soils consist of 80 percent sandy gravel and 20 percent clay.
Climate and Cultivation
The alternation between nighttime moisture in the influence of the Ciron and sunny autumn days encourages the development of Botrytis cinerea. The entire vineyard is covered with vegetation. Since 2021, Rieussec has been farmed as part of the transition to organic viticulture, including the precise application of plant protection and fertiliser products based on vigour maps, permanent ground cover, direct autumn sowing, and hedges as corridors for biodiversity.
Harvest takes place from September to November over six to eight weeks. Several successive selections are based on the ripeness of the grapes and the development of Botrytis cinerea.
Wines and Grape Varieties
Sémillon is the most important grape variety; Sauvignon Blanc is also grown at 17 percent and Muscadelle at 3 percent. Château Rieussec is a sweet white wine of the Sauternes appellation made from Sémillon, Sauvignon and Muscadelle, whose style is shaped by Botrytis cinerea.
Carmes de Rieussec is the second wine of the estate and is selected using the same criteria as Château Rieussec. R de Rieussec is a dry white Bordeaux made from Sémillon and Sauvignon; 20 percent of the wine is fermented in barrels.
History and Maturation
In the 18th century, Rieussec belonged to the Carmes de Langon monks. In 1984, the estate became part of the Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite; afterwards, a new estate was created in the vineyard. Château Rieussec is classified in the 1855 classification as Premier Cru Classé of Sauternes and Barsac. Maturation includes careful sorting of the grapes and fermentation in barrels; a new cellar was built in 1989.
