1998 Château Rieussec - France, Bordeaux, Sauternais, Sauternes (6/5/2006)
DAWGS Offline with mattach and PurpleHaze (Mi Piaci's in Addison, TX): WIML94,WA91-94,WS90-94

Tasted June 5, 2006 at an offline. Tasted from 375ml. Opened and served immediately in a Riedel Champagne flute. Yellow color in the glass, clear throughout. Nose is still pretty tight on this wine giving way to some notes of apricots, honey and almonds. Flavors of apricot, pear, honey and cloves. Viscuous feel on the palate yet still retains good cleansing acidity. Very good effort for the 1998 vintage. Considering this wine can still be purchased for $30.00 per 375ml I’d say the value is recommended. Tasted three times with consistent notes. (94 pts.)

I love Sauternes...I love Rieussec...and I've been loving this 98 vintage for years now! For a while now I've sort of felt it was my own little secret - a 98 Sauterenes...Rieussec even (alwasy my favorite...) - and tasting so damn good! Easily the most balanced, fruity fesh (& acidic & totaly non-cloying), full bodied & (seemingly) fully botriscyzed (by far) 98 I've had (I don't do Yquem...unless your offerin of course...)...and so a few years back I managed to score a case (of 375s) of this (for a song!)...thats how I like/love my Sauterenes! Man! I like this stuff so much and tend to almost always open some when it comes to a (non-Port) desert wine...that I'm both running out quick...real soon now... ...and I find it difficult to pay the $$$ for German or Austrian Icewine, BA & TBA (even though I love it too) - but Sauterenes ( & Rieussec) is where its at! Of course I'm also struggling with the 03 & 05 price increases (and outside of some La Tour Blanche & LP) I'm not buying...but luckily I bought into 01(Rieussec, Suiduiraut, LP, others..) before the prices started getting rediculous....and of course i still have a few bottles or several of this 98 - and boy I'm glad that I do!

1998 Chateau Rieussec Sauternes -- (375 ml) medium gold colour; apricot/peach, honey nose, hints of roasted nuts, similar flavours follow, with clove, créme caramel notes, rich texture; long finish. Absolutely delicious! About 92-94 pts. Colour indicates youth, but palate is very open. Exceeds expectations from this vintage.