Wine Advisor
Carmes de Rieussec 2017
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
Composed of 94% Semillon, 3% Sauvignon Blanc and 3% Muscadelle, the pale lemon-gold colored 2017 Carmes de Rieussec comes bounding out of the glass with rambunctious scents of candied citrus peel, pineapple tart, green mango and fresh apricots with hints of honeycomb, musk perfume and lime blossoms. The medium to full-bodied palate explodes with tropical and stone fruit flavors, offering seamless freshness and a long, honey-laced finish. Yum!
Reviewed by: Lisa Perrotti-Brown
The 2017 Carmes de Rieussec, a blend of 94% Sémillon, 3% Sauvignon Blanc and 3% Muscadelle, opens with gorgeous lemon marmalade, peach preserves and preserved kumquat notes with touches of preserved mandarin peel and honeycomb. It fills the palate with rich, spiced apricot preserves notions, with a racy backbone to balance and a good, long finish.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
The 2017 Carmes de Rieussec is dazzling. Here, too, the winemaking team captured a striking balance of richness and energy. Most second wines from Sauternes these days are light and floral. The Carmes has plenty of those qualities, but it is far from an easygoing Sauternes; rather it packs a serious punch. Lemon confit, passion fruit, exotic flowers and mint meld into the creamy, resonant finish.
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
Lemon confit, white flowers and mint are all laced throughout the 2017 Carmes de Rieussec. Fresh and light on its feet, with notable vibrancy, the Carmes hits all the right notes. The balance here is simply unreal, especially for a second wine. Picking a bit earlier and an increased emphasis in freshness is felt throughout the Rieussec range, but it is especially felt in the Carmes, a mid-weight, super-finessed wine that offers tons of depth while also staying light on its feet.
Reviewed by: Neal Martin
The 2017 Carmes de Rieussec, which has 100gm/L residual sugar, has a charming, lightly honeyed bouquet that is very pure. The palate is not as viscous as recent vintages that I have tasted, but well balanced with a keen thread of acidity that keeps the finish on its toes. This is a lighter Carmes de Rieussec than recent vintages and should be consumed within five or six years after bottling.
