Tasting Notes
Vinous 91+
Bright golden-yellow. Pure but brooding nose offers cherry-almond, vanillin oak and some honeyed high tones; rather dominated by its oak element today. Then generous, fat, sweet and full in the mouth, with a distinctly glyceral quality leavened by ripe, nicely integrated acidity. Big, rich and large-scaled but a bit youthfully monolithic today. Finishes suave, seamless and very long, with a slight tannic edge and a lingering flavor of apricot preserves. This wine will need time to show its complexity.
Wine Advocate 88
The 2000 Riessec is a blend of 65% Semillon, 24% Sauvignon Blanc and 11% Muscadelle picked between 22 September and 3 November. Deep in color, it has a simple lanolin and wax-scented bouquet. The palate is clean and fresh, quite respectable for the vintage with orange, mandarin and light spicy notes on the short, slightly smudged finish. Considering the challenges of the growing season, this really deserves a pat on the back, though I would be inclined to drink it in the near future, as it will not improve further. Tasted April 2016.
Anticipated maturity: 2016-2021