Château Rieussec

Identity

Château Rieussec is a winegrowing estate located in Fargues, in the Gironde. Classified as a Premier Cru Classé in 1855, it has been part of Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) since 1984. Operations are managed by Mathieu Crosnier, alongside cellar master Bertrand Roux and vineyard manager Mathieu Desblancs. Ondine Sanfins heads Research and Development.

History and Philosophy

The history of Château Rieussec dates back to the 18th century, when the property was run by the Carmelite monks of Langon. Over time, the estate passed through several hands, including Charles Crepin around 1870, Paul Defolie in 1892, M. Bannil in 1907, the Gasqueton family before the war, F.F. Berry during the war, M. Balaresque in 1957, and Albert Vuillier in 1971. In 1984, Château Rieussec joined Domaines Barons de Rothschild Lafite. A new cellar was built in 1989. The 2001 vintage of Château Rieussec received major acclaim in 2004. In 2021, organic conversion was initiated, and the estate achieved B Corp certification in 2023.

Appellations

The wines of Château Rieussec are produced under the Sauternes appellation. The estate also produces under the Barsac appellation.

Practical Information

Address: 33210 Fargues

Telephone: +33 (0)5 57 98 14 14

Email: rieussec@lafite.com

Find Out More

Official estate website

The Vineyard (Terroir)

The Château Rieussec vineyard extends over 85 hectares at the junction of the Fargues and Sauternes communes, adjacent to Château d’Yquem. The soils consist of sandy-clay gravel with limestone outcrops. The vineyard is completely grassed over. The grape varieties are dominated by Sémillon (around 80–81%), complemented by Sauvignon Blanc (around 17–18%) and Muscadelle (around 2–3%). Hand-harvesting generally takes place from September to November over a 6 to 8-week period. The estate also hosts a 20-are white grape variety conservatory on a gravelly rise. This repository features 44 clones—just over 1,200 vines—derived from massal selection, including 36 selections of Sémillon, 6 of Sauvignon Blanc, and 2 of Muscadelle. It is certified as mother vines by AgriMer.

Signature Cuvées

The estate's principal cuvée is Château Rieussec. The estate also produces a second wine named Carmes de Rieussec, as well as a dry white wine, R de Rieussec. For the 2019 vintage, the property introduced a new opaque bottle made from PCR glass (96% recycled) featuring a distinctive shape, a screen-printed 3-branch crown, and a technical agglomerated cork stopper. Packaging consists of a 4-bottle kraft cardboard box with paper adhesive tape and bilingual instructions printed on recycled paper. The back label is detachable.

Vinification and Ageing

Vinification is overseen by cellar master Bertrand Roux. R de Rieussec undergoes 20% fermentation in oak barrels. Wine ageing takes place in oak casks for 16 to 22 months, with the proportion of new oak ranging between 70% and 90%. The barrels are primarily sourced from the Domaines' own cooperage.