1996 Château Rieussec

Tasted at the château, the 1996 Rieussec has a lucid golden color. The nose is quite mature with burnt toffee, mandarin and barley sugar scents, quite perfumed and intense, although I suggest lacking the class and precision of more recent vintages. The palate is well balanced with crisp acidity, viscous on the entry with acacia honey, red plums, a hint of marzipan and a dash of spice towards the finish. There is good body here, fine persistence, even if it lacks the finesse of more recent vintages.

Very pure botrytis aromas. Massively sweet – a real statement – but with lots of interest and subtlety on the finish. Real follow-through, and a bit of burnt caramel on the finish. So powerful! Great balance and confidence. Very long indeed. Not Charles’s favourite! (JR)

This wine offers an orange, caramel, and honeyed nose with intriguing quince/kumquat fruit flavors, a complex personality, and a low level of glycerin in the mouth. This medium to full-bodied, long wine will be at its peak between 2000-2020.|| Wine Advocate.April, 1999