Wine from Sauternes

Wine Spectator, 92 points: Exotically perfumed violet and rose petals burst on your palate, accompanied by dried apricot, lemon and honey flavors. Gorgeous and subtle, glowing on the finish.

Wine Enthusiast, 94 points: For a 2004, this is big and rich, but that is to be expected from Guiraud. The fruit is magnificently ripe, with flavors of peach and tangerine syrup along with the core of botrytis and dark honey. The aftertaste is...

Jancis Robinson's Purple Pages, 93 points: Luminous copper. Full and round and very opulent. Round and full and clean and open on the nose. Though not desperately subtle. More almonds on the nose. Very round, not especially complex but clean and bumptious and...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 97 points: The 2005 Rieussec is a blend of 90% Semillon, 8% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Muscadelle picked between 23 September and 27 October. It has a fabulous bouquet that is mineral-rich and tensile. The palate repeats its performance...

Wine Spectator, 96 points: This leans toward the tropical side, with mango and guava notes out front, while maple, date, blood orange and citrus oil flavors fill in behind. The finish kicks into another gear, taking off with honeysuckle, orange...

Wine Enthusiast, 98 points: (WE96-98 points) Impressively balanced, with the fruit rich, intense with a golden glow. The acidity is as important as the freshness, giving a delicious lift to the core of dry, concentrated botrytis. Obviously a great...

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 92 points: (RP90-92 points) Rated, no tasting note given. - Robert Parker

jamessuckling.com, 96 points: Gorgeous aromas of dried apricots, apple pie crust and pineapple. Full-bodied, with medium sweetness. Dense and layered. Beautiful now but will improve with age. Drink or hold.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, 97 points: The 2005 Rieussec is a blend of 90% Semillon, 8% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Muscadelle picked between 23 September and 27 October. It has a fabulous bouquet that is mineral-rich and tensile. The palate repeats its performance...

jamessuckling.com, 97 points: This appears to be the synthesis of the fabulous 2001 and 2003. It shows wonderful aromas of botrytis spice, honey and citrus rind. Lots of fruit with a tropical fruit undertone of mango and papaya on the palate. Intense...

Stephen Tanzer's IWC, 92 points: Fairly pale color. Intriguing musky aromas of pineapple white plum mirabelle and minerals; nose shows terrific precision. Then thick dense and sweet in the mouth but surprisingly tightly wound and spicy thanks to very...

Neal Martin's Wine Journal, 99 points: (NM 97-99 points) Tasted at the chateau. O.K. - I think this is better than the 1990! Intense hue. Brilliant expressive apricot/orangey nose with tonnes of botrytis. Unctuous and fat. Slightly lower in acidity than other...