The 1978 Rieussec is a vintage that I have only tasted once before, predating the acquisition by the Rothschild family by several years. It is a simple Sauternes that could best be described as "holding in there". A tangy of marmalade on the nose, mothballs and a touch of wax, it clearly lacks botrytis vis-à-vis other vintages. Like most Sauternes, although it is past its best, it continues to offer a modicum of drinking pleasure. Just don't expect unctuous fruit and razor-sharp precision. There is satisfying weight and a pleasant nuttiness towards the short finish, but at 38 years of age and from an average Sauternes vintage, it now offers little else. Tasted April 2016.