2020 | Château Coutet | Sauternes

This is an extremely delicate vintage. The first tastings reveal a particularly fresh wine, marked by floral notes of lily of the valley and grapefruit flowers.

Reviews:

• Wine Advocate: The 2020 Coutet has a pale lemon-gold color, waltzing out of the glass with energetic notes of lemon tart, pink grapefruit, green mango and lime blossoms, with hints of chopped almonds, clover honey, candle wax and straw, plus a waft of sea spray. The palate is all class, featuring ethereal intensity and amazing poise, enveloped in a satiny texture and seamless acidity, finishing long and mineral laced. Currently, while it is just a tick or so down on the impressive 2019, I love the restraint and energy of this 2020 and wouldn't be surprised if it eventually spreads its wings and surpasses its showier sibling over time.

• James Suckling: Pineapple, mangoes, honeysuckle and yellow flowers here, with acacia honey too. Sweet yet fresh, with pretty tropical fruit and floral notes and a bright finish.

Producer Information

Château Coutet is a Premier Cru Sauternes producer located in the Barsac region of Bordeaux. It is one of the oldest producers in Sauternes, and has the longest cellar in the region, at 110 meters. Coutet is the Gascon word for "knife", signifying the dessert wine's crisp and ripping acidity. The château is an English fortress that was built in the 13th Century. In 1643, it was acquired by Charles le Guerin, a counselor in the Bordeaux parliament, who then passed it on to his nephew Jean le Pichard in 1695. In 1787, Thomas Jefferson claimed Château Coutet as the best Sauternes from Barsac. Coutet was then acquired by Gabriel-Barthelemy-Romain de Filhot. During the French Revolution the château was seized by the state, and Filhot was beheaded. Coutet went through numerous owners over the years before it was finally purchased by the Baly family in 1977. Château Coutet is primarily made up of Semillon, with smaller amounts of Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. The grapes are grown on clay and limestone soils, giving a distinct minerality to the sweet, botrytized wine. The wine is then aged 18 months in French oak barrels that are 70-100 percent new. Château Coutet also makes a second-tier label called La Chartreuse de Coutet, and in the best years, the estate also produces 1200 bottles of a premium wine, Cuvée Madame de Château Coutet. The estate also produces a dry white wine. Previously simply called the Vin Sec de Château Coutet, it is now released as Opalie de Château Coutet.

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