2023 Château Coutet | 0,375l

The 2023 Coutet has a tightly-wound bouquet that demands more coaxing than its peers. It typically already possesses laser-sharp focus and is less flamboyant than fellow Barsacs, underpinned and sharpened by its limestone soils. The palate is well balanced with intense botrytised fruit, lightly spiced dried honey and orange rind notes, just a hint of apricot in the background, stretching out on the finish that lingers on the tongue. I am not sure it is the best Coutet in recent years, but it is certainly a very fine contribution to the vintage that should age well in bottle.

- Neal Martin (04/2024)

A Barsac with dried-apple, apricot and spice character. The botrytis comes through with a healthy and clean nature to it. Medium-bodied and medium-sweet with a spicy finish. (04/2024)

The 2023 Château Coutet is another decadent, powerful Barsac in the vintage. Honeyed orange, toasted spices, sautéed pineapple, and assorted tropical, floral notes all just about jump from the glass, and it's full-bodied on the palate, with a wealth of fruit, good acidity, and a great finish. (05/2024)

A blend of 95% Semillon, 4% Sauvignon Blanc, and 1% Muscadelle, the 2023 Coutet has 165g/l of residual sugar and a pH of 3.66. It is pale lemon-straw in color and scoots out of the glass with eager-to-please notes of lemon meringue pie, fresh nectarines, and key lime pie, leading to touches of powdered ginger, coriander seed, and acacia honey, with a waft of wild fungi. The palate is chock-full of vivacious citrus and stone fruit flavors, with a lively backbone and a long, steely finish. (05/2024)