Château Coutet 2019

Full-bodied, juicy, with a good balance of sweetness, density, and freshness; pleasing, meets the brief.

A soft-edged, forward-styled version, with lemon meringue, warmed peach, and fresh pineapple and mango notes all mingling together. Features a pie crust accent that holds sway on the finish. Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. Drink now through 2033. 1,458 cases made.

Gorgeous nose full of exotic spices, candied fruit, orange, apricot and honeyed brioche. Lovely unctuous texture here, it's fat but smooth – like thick, silky, fruity caramel; quite defined and straight but with roundness and generosity, with pineapple, mango, even violet giving an appealing florality, and these lovely almost bitter orange edges. It’s still a bit young but shows great vibrancy right now, with acidity that brings energy and life all the way through. Lifted and bright.

Wildflower honey, dried pineapple, candied lemon, with an exotic ginger and cumin spice and marmalade on the nose. Waxy and luscious, balanced by fresh acidity. Spicy, unctuous but also delicate. Drink now or hold.

The 2019 Coutet is an attractive Barsac. Orange marmalade, burnt sugar and spice infuse the 2019 with notable depth to fill out its ample, richly textured frame. There's plenty of character, but I don't find this especially finessed.

Flowers, orange blossoms, pineapple. Mango crème brûlée and vanilla scents are everywhere here. Sweet, fresh, and most importantly zesty, the finish leans to the tropical orange side with a liberal drizzle of honey and orange marmalade. Drink from 2022–2045.

Medium golden yellow, silver reflections. Fine yellow tropical fruit, a hint of spice, mandarin zest underneath, a somewhat restrained bouquet. Medium-bodied, juicy, yellow tropical fruit and peach on the finish, somewhat powerful, flint aftertaste, sure maturity and certain ageing potential, still needs time.

Medium deep golden colour. Pure and intense perfume of saffron, earl grey, ripe apricot, honey and pastry. The palate is dense and unctuous with layers of honeyed fruit, fine extract contributing with a great sense of freshness, well-integrated oak, a slight hint of vanilla, and a very dense and persistent finish. Still youthful but finely proportioned, with everything in place.

75% Sémillon, 23% Sauvignon Blanc, 2% Muscadelle. Hazy golden-yellow with green highlights. Intense bouquet of fresh linden blossom honey, quince jelly, and Moroccan mint. Syrupy palate with caramel-like extract and a brawny body. Aromatic, never-ending finish with preserved pears and orange zest.

Kunz barrel sample 2020: (75% Sémillon, 23% Sauvignon Blanc, 2% Muscadelle, 13.5% vol. alcohol, production 50,000 bottles) Opulent, broad, full bouquet, grated apples, vanilla, caramel, bananas. Plump, powerful palate with generous sweetness, fine acidity, creamy structure, long, powerful finish.

(75% Sémillon, 23% Sauvignon Blanc, 2% Muscadelle, 13.5% alc./vol., production 50,000 bottles) Opulent, broad, full bouquet with grated apples, vanilla, caramel, bananas. Plush, powerful palate with opulent sweetness, fine acidity, creamy texture, and a long, powerful finish. 18/20 2026 - 2055

Golden yellow in colour, concentrated and enticing. The focus is on texture and architecture rather than flavour on the first beats, but it opens to show enjoyable quince, lime, white flowers. Rich through the mid palate with welcome slate scrape and mandarin zest bitterness on the finish.

A blend of 75% Semillon, 23% Sauvignon Blanc, and 2% Muscadelle, the 2019 Coutet is pale lemon-straw in color. The nose offers lifted beurre blanc and preserved limes scents, followed by notes of apple pie and wet slate. The palate delivers intense citrus layers with a racy backbone and lifted finish.

Right away, it draws us into the Barsac soil with its slight iron note. With great aromatic purity and a vibrant fragrance, it evokes candied lemon. On the palate, it taps into the limestone strength of its terroir, which imparts remarkable vitality. A finely chiseled wine, despite its richness. Majestic.

A nose of great purity, with dried apricot and currant, generous yet with something lively and finely chiseled. On the palate, a deep undercurrent that deliciously coats the mouth, with a very seductive side on passion fruit, lime and yellow peach.

What freshness, authenticity, and character! Minerality and fruit create a beautiful symbiosis through notes of rhubarb and apple, along with aromas of caramelized apples. This harmony is echoed on the palate, where liveliness, temperament, and softness are in sync. This Coutet has excellent aging potential, and I believe it has not yet revealed all its resources… but they are certainly there. It will have time to unveil them over the decades to come. Saline, persistent finish.

Golden-yellow color. Very aromatic nose, fruity and spicy. Rich on the attack, the wine unfolds smoothly and flavorfully, with complex nuances that linger, set against a backdrop of ripe white fruits.