Barsac

This exquisite wine has been carefully vinified for us by one of the finest châteaux in Sauternes, Ch. Climens. The fruit comes from different parcels within the vineyard, producing a wine with classic honey and orange blossom notes on the nose. The palate is intensely sweet yet beautifully balanced by fresh, lively acidity. It will pair brilliantly with a tarte tatin or with blue and goats’ cheeses.
Max Lalondrelle, Wine Buyer, Berry Bros. & Rudd

Displaying Ch. Coutet’s characteristic aromatic nose, the 2002 also has evidence of the deeper concentration that is apparent in these beautiful dessert wines from Barsac. A blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, this Premier Cru Classé is one of the largest properties in Barsac.

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.

Rich, bitter orange and apricot nose. Pretty viscous considering the lower RS but lovely tangy acidity. Long, full of spiced barley sugar flavours, but with a slightly abrupt finish, perhaps a slight phenolic grip combined with the high acidity. Bags of character. 
Julia Harding - Jancis Robinson, 13th May 2009

Of the 22 very promising ingredients, many are big and muscular, while some are particularly spicy. As usual, Bérénice Lurton did not show the final blend, which is likely to be about 14.3% alcohol.
Drink 2027-2050
Jancis Robinson MW - jancisrobinson.com - Apr 2016

Very rich, deep aromas of lemon verbena, peach, cinnamon; enticing. Rich, dense and suave palate, with a honeyed richness to the spicy, fresh citrus and apple jelly flavours. A large-scaled Coutet showcasing a hint of passerillage (dried grapes). Outstanding, but I prefer the 2014.
Drink: 2020-2035
Ian D’Agata - decanter.com

A 100% Sauvignon Blanc! ‘It was the first time we ever dared to do it,’ said Denis Dubourdieu. Elegant if reticent nose of lemon jelly, melon and saffron. Extremely rich and concentrated on the palate with a viscous mouthfeel and pure, fresh citrus and sweet spice flavours. Three barriques only were made, with roughly 204g/l residual sugar and 9g/l total acidity. Excellent and racy but lacks the weight provided by Semillon.
Drink: 2020-2040
Ian D’Agata - decanter.com

Ch. Doisy-Védrines is one on the most consistent wine properties in Sauternes, delivering near-perfect liquid gold year-in, year-out. What I love about this property is the freshness they give to the wines, which makes them approachable very early on, but also builds the backbone for very long-term ageing. 2010 is no exception to this; it is very fresh on the approach with lovely tropical fruits, apricots, and gorgeous long and precise sweet finish. It is in my top three Sauternes this year.
Max Lalondrelle, Bordeaux Wine Buyer

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.

One of the stars of the sweet wines this year and seemingly indicative of a strong showing for the commune of Barsac. The bouquet is truly a thing of beauty, with pure, vivid aromas of citrus peel, apricot and honey. The palate is again wonderfully pure and clean, and the length, albeit with lowish acidity, impressive. The sweetness is very clean and not at all cloying.

As usual the assemblage of Climens will not be finalised until close to bottling. The 2014 will be almost 100% Grand Vin and was picked between 25th September and 27th October in 6 distinct lots, ranging from 109g/l to 168g/l of residual sugar at a yield of approximately 6.5hl/ha. It is likely that the final blend will weigh in at around 14.5% alc, 146g/l residual sugar, resembling 2001 and 2007 but with better freshness. In general the lots showed the hallmark elegance and balance of Climens, in combination with beautifully rich tropical fruit, spice and a lovely minerality. The structure here crafts a wine that will give pleasure for well over half a century and a finish that goes on and on. An world class sweet wine by Berenice Lurton! Approximately 1,250 cases will be produced.
Gareth Birchley, Fine Wine Buyer (Asia)

There was much more depth and concentration on the nose of this wine, than any of the other five major Sauternes and Barsac we tried at a famous Negociant in Bordeaux. Serious and concentrated on the palate too, some exotic notes of preserved pineapple, mouth-filling fruit, balanced by mouth-watering acidity. Very Barsac in its elegance and very enjoyable and complete as a wine.
Chris Pollington – Private Account Manager Tasting En Primeur Barsac is always hugely enjoyable, and in 2014 none more so than Ch. Doisy-Daëne. The nose shows complex, rich yellow stone fruits with a faint but exciting touch of pineapple - pointing to many levels of complexity as this matures. On the palate there is tremendous density of flavour, focus too, with the acidity absolutely spot on. This acidity is well framed in soft, creamy oak which perfectly matches the weight of the fruit. The finish is expansive, with a spicy whip of white pepper and yet more pure fruit.
Gary Owen - Private Account Manager

Picked in just two tries, 90% picked in one trie, tasting through 13 separate lots, the core components of a great Climens appear to be in place. Paying particular attention to the lots that constitute a large percentage of the blend (usually around 15%) the common themes are ones of great purity, persistency and precision.

The aromatics display pure honey, minerals, occasionally a faint scent of spearmint and white peach, most with spellbinding precision. On the palate, Berenice Lurton has some stupendous lots at her disposal, with ample botrytis, ethereal definition, one or two more powerful, quite spicy lots and others that are shorter and will undoubtedly lend the blend an acidic cut. It will be a joy to taste this after bottling.
Neal Martin - Wine Advocate - April 2010

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.

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.

Anybody who has tasted the sensational 1989 Doisy-Védrines will want to snap up the equally good 2007 in an instant. As well as being one of the sweetest wines of the vintage it is exceptionally elegant and well-balanced. The nose is marked by intense, icy-cool tropical citrus while the rich yet fresh palate has wonderfully pure, sweet creamy pineapple fruit, plenty of botrytis and fine balancing acidity. The finish is incredibly long and precise. Made from 95% Sémillon and 5% Sauvignon Blanc, this is a magically sensual Sauternes at an outstanding price.

In 2013 only 2500 cases will be made (half the production of the last few abundant years and a fraction of the production of Ch. d’Yquem), but the final blend is not decided until early summer. Each barrel shows its individual character, but all had in common an energy, focus, persistence, depth and precision that makes this one of the wines of the vintage. The ethereal quality that I consider the hallmark of a great Climens was already noticeable as was an intense perfumed fragrance, which is the hallmark of the 2013 vintage. 2013 Climens is a jewel in the making and though its subtle elegance will make this approachable young, it has decades of ageing and evolving ahead.

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

Ch. Doisy-Daëne is a rich, concentrated wine in 2009 with notes of ripe mango and papaya juxtaposed with intense sweetness and fine, balancing acidity. An opulent style of Doisy-Daëne, this has wonderful tropical complexity and is bound to reward any sweet tooth.