Château Coutet 2022

The calm, the serenity radiating from this bouquet are impressive; rich on the palate, opulent yet not heavy, with plenty of finesse and charm, and very good length. Very pleasing this year.

Ripe, unctuous and deliciously rendered, this pumps out orange blossom, peach, apricot and pineapple upside-down cake notes that are seamlessly stitched with bitter almond and orange threads. Offers a long, seductively glazed finish. Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. Drink now through 2045. 5,400 cases made.

Orange, lemon, lime, honey, caramel with an almost candy floss scent. Smooth and so satisfying on the palate, a lovely buttery element alongside the signature bitterness. Complex and compelling, really thick and glossy yet enjoyable.

Lots of dried-apricot and peach aromas with hints of dried white mushrooms and flowers. Medium- to full-bodied, this has lots of sweetness but a spicy flinty and citrus character with dried pineapple and white peaches. Extremely long and flavorful. Such balance and classiness to this. Drink or hold.

Honeysuckle, butterscotch, mangos, flowers, and honey-coated tropical fruit aromas fill the nose. On the palate, there is a richness that's loaded with honey-drenched pineapples, roasted sweet green apples, spice, and apricots that are already delicious! The wine blends 96% Semillon, 3% Sauvignon Blanc, and 1% Muscadelle. Drink from 2026-2050.

The 2022 Château Coutet is deeper gold in hue and offers a ripe, powerful style with brioche, toasted bread, honeyed orange, and marmalade-like aromas and flavors. It’s a rich, unctuous, full-bodied wine with serious density and depth.

Low yields but well-expressed juiciness here, along with a luscious texture of apricot, citrus, pineapple, sage, mint leaf, and liquorice; really impressive complexity and depth of flavour, with a kick of slate minerality on the finish. An upscore from En Primeur — more proof that Barsac is the place to look in this vintage. Harvest September 26 to October 28.

An appealing, fresh and playful nose, with notes of orange and orange blossom. On the palate, the wine is deep, complex and nuanced, with notes of apricot and raisins.

Coutet 2022 shows an unlikely authenticity and clarity. And I’m forgetting the depth. In fact, this Coutet takes you by surprise. It doesn’t announce itself; it emerges from who knows where—aside from the fact that it hails from Barsac—to settle with a certain authority, almost aristocratic, though rather military given its owner’s rank! Thus, its clarity is underlined by freshness and brightness, while its depth champions floral nuances and limestone. On the palate, the wine shines with energy, salinity, tension, and an ability to channel sweetness. It is powerful, yet also incisive, virulent, imposing—almost thunderous. In fact, it reminds me of a teenager aware of their potential, demonstratively unwilling to do everything expected of them; in other words, it doesn’t care to be charming—it prefers rock’n’roll… One does not exclude the other. A fascinating, moving, sweeping wine.

Yellow color with green highlights. Very aromatic, fruity and fresh nose, with lovely notes of lime and a touch of vanilla. Precise on entry, fragrant through the mid-palate, with a classy texture and fine flavor, the wine melts into a savory finish, with spicy notes lingering on the palate. Delicate and very good.

The wine is perfectly balanced, between liqueur-like richness and acidity. The nose breaks new ground as the citrus recedes in favor of notes of white fruit jelly, pear in syrup, verbena, acacia blossom and candied lemon. The finish, marked by kumquat and ginger, brings a playful twist to the whole.

The 2022 from the Baly family opens with a beautifully intense and very Barsac nose, filled with the scents of fresh pomelo, mango, quartz and crushed chalk. The palate is fresh and bright, with a modestly sweet and controlled texture but plenty of counterbalancing elements, with powdered minerality, a handsome streak of bitterness, and an admirable acidity for this warmer vintage. It finishes with a flourish of smoky minerals, sweet mango and pithy bitterness. Nice texture and energy here, and a good result in this vintage which represents its appellation very well. Tasted twice. The alcohol on the label is 13.5%.