Château Rieussec, R, Sauternes, Bordeaux, 2023 (750ml)

R de Rieussec 2023 is the dry white from Château Rieussec’s Sauternes vineyard on the left bank of the Garonne, grown on 85 hectares of sandy‑clay gravel with pockets of limestone. The vintage brought a wet winter, tropical conditions from mid‑May to early July and heatwaves in August and September, yet the health of the vines and the richness of the terroir yielded wines of notable balance and purity. Hand‑harvested into small crates, Sauvignon Blanc was picked early to retain freshness and thiol aromatics, while Sémillon was harvested fully ripe for structure and body. After gentle pressing and cold settling, Sémillon was largely vinified and aged six months on lees in new and one‑year barrels, while Sauvignon was mainly fermented in stainless steel at low temperature with a smaller barrel portion. The final blend (50% barrel, 50% tank) shows subtlety and freshness: citrus, floral notes and white‑fleshed fruits with barrel‑derived complexity, a silky texture and an elegant, saline, pure finish. A finely balanced dry white to enjoy now or over the next few years.