2019 Ch Coutet 1er Cru Half Bottle 375ml, Sauternes

A sweet, dense and rich white with oily character. Full and layered. Extremely long. Spicy. Very dense.

94-95 points jamessuckling.com June 2020

Intense exotic fruits abound, powerful apricot, nectarine, white flowers and white truffles with excellent bitter almonds on the finish that works so well as a counterpoint to the luxurious texture. I love this, silky and seductive yet strict. Philippe Dhalluin of Mouton does the blend here since 2009 along with the family. Drinking Window 2022 - 2050

97 points Jane Anson decanter.com

The 2019 Coutet has a luscious bouquet with scents of dried honey, honeysuckle and orange pith, intense and well defined. The palate is built around Coutet's trademark line of acidity, an underlying zestiness cutting through the unctuous honeyed fruit with a welcome orange rind and marmalade note on the persistent finish. Excellent.

94-96 points Neal Martin vinous.com

Château Coutet 2019 Barsac 1er Cru Classé is a thrilling young Sauternes that showcases the estate’s hallmark balance of sweetness, mineral precision and citrus driven energy. Coutet is one of the oldest and most admired properties in the region, blessed with limestone rich soils that naturally produce wines with brightness and lift. The 2019 growing season delivered ripe, botrytised fruit with excellent acidity, and multiple meticulous hand harvest passes ensured only the most beautifully concentrated berries made it to the press. Fermentation and ageing in French oak provide additional depth and texture while preserving the estate’s elegant style.

The aromas are vibrant and layered. Fresh apricot, marmalade and candied citrus peel are joined by pineapple, white peach and honeyed apple tart. Hints of saffron, ginger, vanilla cream and almond pastry reflect the gentle influence of noble rot and oak. Beneath the richness is a fine chalky minerality that speaks directly to Barsac’s limestone plateau and keeps the bouquet wonderfully lifted.

On the palate the wine is luscious yet poised, with silky fruit gliding over refreshing acidity that maintains remarkable tension. Flavours of citrus curd, ripe peach, quince and tropical fruit unfold in confident layers, supported by subtle spice, caramelised notes and a delicate floral echo. The finish is long, pure and precise, lingering with honeyed fruit, zesty citrus oil and that signature Barsac mineral line. Already stunning, it promises decades of graceful evolution, deepening into richer tones of dried fruit, toasted nuts and warm spice while holding onto its youthful energy.

A beautiful partner for foie gras, blue cheese, roast poultry with fruit glaze, crème brûlée, almond based pastries or as an exquisite glass to finish a meal. It is a superb example of modern Coutet: radiant, refreshing and quietly grand.