Chateau Rieussec
Carmes de Rieussec
Sauternes
2023
Vintage
Varietal
Semillon Blend
ABV
13.5%
Where it is, June 2026
Approaching Peak: drinkable, but best years are ahead.
In 2026, the 2023 Carmes de Rieussec has just entered its drinking window in the current year, marking the start of a long and rewarding arc that extends through 2040 with peak complexity arriving around 2030. This is the opening chapter for a wine produced in what Wine Spectator characterized as the best Sauternes vintage since 2014 - a rating of Classic 95 points for a region that had experienced challenging conditions in 2021 and modest results in 2022. At three years from harvest, the wine is youthful and vibrant: candied apricot, citrus aromatics, and floral character dominate, with the botrytis-influenced richness just beginning to integrate. The freshness and lift characteristic of the 2023 Sauternes vintage are fully present, giving the wine an animated, modern quality that distinguishes it from richer and weightier expressions. Those who open a bottle in 2026 will enjoy genuine Sauternes pleasure, but those who hold toward 2029 to 2032 will encounter a wine with significantly more complexity and depth as the honeyed concentration and mineral structure integrate. For a cellar investment, 2023 Carmes de Rieussec is compelling.
The ‘23 Carmes de Rieussec.
Carmes de Rieussec 2023 enters its drinking window in 2026 from one of Sauternes's best vintages since 2014 - candied apricot freshness with a decade of development ahead.
Drinking window
Tasting note
Pale gold with fine clarity and an inviting aromatic intensity that opens immediately in the glass. The nose is modern and expressive: candied apricot and citrus lead, followed by delicate floral aromatics including white acacia and orange blossom, with a fine honey note that signals the 2023 vintage's botrytis quality without the heavy sweetness of a very opulent year. The freshness that Wine Spectator described as the vintage's signature characteristic is immediately apparent - the wine feels lifted and animated rather than dense and luscious. On the palate, the confit-fruit richness provides the sweetness characteristic of good Sauternes, but the fine texture and integrated acidity keep the wine from feeling heavy or cloying. A modern, precise style that balances richness with freshness more successfully than many warmer-vintage Sauternes expressions. The finish is persistent and mineral, trailing through dried apricot, a saline mineral note, and the lingering sweetness that defines the appellation at its best.
The 2023 vintage
The 2023 growing season in Sauternes was exceptional despite challenging conditions earlier in the year. A touch of spring frost in April reduced yields slightly, while humid summer conditions created mildew pressure that demanded intensive vineyard management. The key to the vintage's quality was the timing and intensity of botrytis infection in September and October: warm days and cool nights maintained acidity throughout, creating the groundwork for fast-moving and explosive botrytis spread when harvest conditions aligned. Wine Spectator awarded 2023 Sauternes a Classic 95 points, characterizing it as the best vintage since 2014 and noting the wines show vibrant freshness and precision alongside genuine botrytis concentration. This is a Sauternes vintage that rewards cellaring through the 2030s.
About Chateau Rieussec
Chateau Rieussec's Carmes de Rieussec is the second sweet wine of one of Sauternes's Premier Grand Cru Classe estates, owned by Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite) since 1984. The wine is produced from younger vines on the limestone-clay plateau shared with the grand vin, with winemaker Sebastien Lafontan overseeing hand-harvesting with multiple tries through the vineyards to capture botrytis-infected grapes at peak quality. The 2023 vintage was particularly carefully harvested given the precision of the botrytis spread - a fast-moving, high-quality infection that demanded rapid and selective picking decisions. Carmes offers the Rieussec house style of mineral-forward Sauternes at an accessible entry point, aging for 15 to 24 years in top vintages like 2023.
From the cellar: pair with
Foie Gras with Poached Peaches
The classic Sauternes pairing - the wine's integrated sweetness and fine acidity cut through foie gras fat while the candied apricot and citrus aromatics harmonize with poached stone fruit alongside.
Roquefort with Honeycomb
The wine's freshness and acidity cut through the salt and fat of blue cheese, and the honey note in the 2023 Sauternes creates resonance with the honeycomb accompaniment.
Creme Brulee or Almond Financier
The wine's dried apricot and floral character harmonize with vanilla custard and almond pastry, and its refreshing acidity prevents the dessert pairing from becoming cloyingly sweet.
Service & cellaring
- Serving Temp
- 46-50F (8-10C)
- Decanting
- Serve chilled at 46 to 50F. No decanting needed, but 15 minutes of warming in the glass opens the floral and honeyed aromatics. The wine can also be served slightly warmer at 52F to emphasize its richness.
- Cellar Storage
- 45F (7C), 70% humidity, stored on its side.
The drinking window on this bottle is calculated with the Cellared Ageability Index (CAI) v1.0, a 10-factor model. Try the free drinking window calculator on any wine, or read when to drink wine for the practical signals.
More from Sauternes
Frequently Asked
When is the 2023 Carmes de Rieussec at its best?
The wine just entered its window in 2026 and builds toward peak complexity from 2030 through 2040. This is an excellent moment to open a first bottle and assess the wine's development, but the most complete and integrated expression arrives around 2029 to 2032. The wine will hold through 2040, with the premium 2023 vintage structure supporting extended aging.
Why is 2023 considered an exceptional Sauternes vintage?
Wine Spectator awarded the 2023 Sauternes vintage a Classic 95 points - the best rating for the appellation since 2014. The key was the timing of botrytis infection: after a challenging humid summer, warm days and cool nights in September and early October created the perfect conditions for explosive, fast-moving botrytis spread, producing wines of genuine concentration and freshness simultaneously. The wines are vibrant and precise rather than heavy and dense.
What food pairs best with Carmes de Rieussec?
Foie gras is the quintessential Sauternes pairing - a small serving of foie gras torchon with brioche and poached fruit is the classic accompaniment. Blue cheese, particularly Roquefort, creates a dramatic sweet-salt contrast that is one of wine's great food pairings. For dessert, creme brulee, almond-based pastries, and fresh stone fruit preparations all harmonize with the wine's apricot and floral character.
How does the 2023 vintage compare to the 2021 Carmes de Rieussec?
The 2021 and 2023 are at opposite ends of the Sauternes quality spectrum for recent vintages. The 2021 was affected by severe spring frost that reduced yields dramatically and limited botrytis development, producing a lighter, fresher wine with a Very Good 89-point rating. The 2023 is a Classic 95-point vintage with genuine botrytis richness and a decade-plus aging trajectory. Both are genuine Sauternes, but the 2023 has significantly more depth and aging potential.