Chateau Coutet, Barsac

Rich, concentrated Barsac with a high level of residual sugar (145 gm/l) and honey, dried mango notes. Fairly dense, layered flavours with a full-bodied palate. Two samples tasted: one was fresh and lifted while the other was dull and heavy.
Jeannie Cho Lee MW, Decanter, April 2013

Ch. Coutet is one of the largest Barsac properties and has been owned by the Baly family since 1977. Classified as a Sauternes Premier Cru Classé, Coutetis located in the south of the appellation. The wines are aromatically complex and lusciously concentrated.

Ch. Coutet is really pretty in 2013. It is rather light and more floral than many from this vintage and shows lots of engaging acidity. Focused, showing signs of dried apricots and even a little mango, this is very tasty wine indeed.

Another stunning Barsac; aromas of honey, peach, citrus and apricot leap from the glass, while on the palate there is freshness, vigour and elegance. Acidities do not seem high in the sweet wines this year, but they have such purity and delicacy that they are not remotely blowsy.

A fabulous wine for the vintage with plenty of botrytis on the nose and  intensely sweet, seductive, fruit flavours. This has a wonderful balance between elegance and power. Very fine indeed.

This is one of the leading wines in Barsac, renowned for its elegant wines. 2003's heat has aided the production of a sweeter than usual wine from Coutet, yet without the loss of its characteristic delicacy and aristocratic balance. With floral, honeyed citrus aromas, and a mineral-rich peachy palate, this is intensely sweet and succulent, yet feminine and fresh. The finish is clean and very long. Exquisite.
BBR Score 18.5/20
92/100 pts Robert Parker (Wine Advocate Apr 06)

Ch. Coutet is one of the foremost properties in the Sauternes & Barsac region, it is without question one of the very best producers of excellent sweet white Bordeaux wines.  A property we have keenly followed for many years.
The Baly family have owned Ch. Coutet since 1977, but recently, under the direction of next generation proprietor Aline Baly, the chateau has produced some of their best ever wines.  Her modern, detail-conscious approach to all aspects of the winemaking, along with the luck of being blessed with fantastic vintages, has ensured that Aline has produced  many exceptional Barsac wines.  Typically comprising 75% Semillon, ensuring the wonderful elegance typical of the best Barsac.

Robert Parker comments in his 2003 book ‘Bordeaux’:
“Since 1983 Coutet has been making top notch wine nearly every vintage. In fact, this appears to be a property that is deadly serious about challenging  Climens’ historical role as the top estate in the Barsac region.”

The Chateau has made available to us a mixed case of their fantastic 1997, 2002 & 2004 wines.  The case comprises two bottles of each vintage and is very neatly presented in a specially produced wooden ‘Collection’ case. 1997  “A classic example of elegance allied to richness and intensity, Coutet's 1997 exhibits an expressive, floral, citrusy, honeyed nose, with notes of orange, Chinese black tea, pineapple, and spicy oak. It is all finesse, with honey, medium to full body, gorgeous delineation, and refreshing underlying acidity. It should drink well young. Anticipated maturity: 2002-2020.”
90/100 Points, Robert Parker

2002  “A lovely gold color enhanced by coppery glints. The wine’s nose, ample and very open, shows complex notes of blended honey, beeswax, crystallized quince and small dried fruits. On the palate, the wine is round and generous, with a good balance between concentration and freshness, with a few notes of honey and rock sugar, mixed with spices and vanilla. On the finish, one finds an agreeable, saline minerality, bringing forth freshness, and a lengthy trail of very ripe exotic fruits.”  Aline Baly, Owner – Ch. Coutet

2004  “A beautiful coppery yellow, the wine is discreet on the nose, yet very fine. Once the wine has been aerated, it gives off a few notes of white and yellow fruits (pear, peach, and cherry plum) mixed with notes of beeswax and crystallized quince. On the palate, one can detect a marriage of elegant, fruit brandy, notes of spices and dried fruits. The blend is very aromatic and well-integrated, giving a small yet quite pleasant complexity, with finesse and a savory impression. The finish, with a small touch of caramel-toffee, lingers on an aromatic expression rather than power, giving this vintage a lot of charm.” Aline Baly, Owner – Ch. Coutet

This is another mouthwateringly good effort from Ch. Coutet. One of the classics of the region Coutet has once again provided a model of elegance and balance and style in 2005. Discreet and stylish, the fine pale colour and graceful, aromatic floral bouquet are supported by a beautifully harmonious palate of pure sweet citrus, peach and honeysuckle. As with the finest red wines of the vintage, the class really shows on the finish, which is intense, complex and exceptionally long. A wonderful Sauternes for the true connoisseur.

This is an exceptional Coutet: a pale-coloured paragon of delicacy and concentration, as befits this leading Barsac. The nose is beautiful, with zingy peach, orange blossom and an intriguing smokiness. The pure, apricot and lemon tart palate is wonderfully elegant with fresh acidity and an exceptional sweetness, typical of 2007, that will reveal increasing complexity as the wine matures.