Château Coutet 2011

Tasted blind at the Sauternes 2011 horizontal tasting. The 2011 Château Coutet has a distinctive yet attractive bouquet: clear honey, rosewater, peach, and just a touch of barley sugar that pins it to Barsac. The palate is medium-bodied with a viscous texture. There is more harmony here than on the nose, nicely understated with quince and barley sugar, dovetailing into an elegant finish. I would prefer just a touch more weight and persistence, but otherwise this is a fine Sauternes, even if it does not quite meet my expectations from barrel, primarily since it is just missing Coutet’s usual razor-sharp acidity that imparts such electricity to its finest vintages. Nevertheless, this will provide much pleasure over the next two or three decades.

White peach, pineapple, white ginger, orange zest and green fig notes are clear and racy, while green almond, brioche, pear and yellow apple details wait in reserve. Offers stunning range and polish, showing terrific energy and cut on the finish. This just makes you feel special when you drink it. An estate that has been rising steadily for a while now. Best from 2016 through 2035. 2,915 cases made.

Sumptuous nose of apricot and pineapple. Very sweet, but with enticing purity of fruit and raciness. Concentrated but has tangy acidity, adding up to a stylish wine with impeccable balance and length.

This sweet white is quite oily, with dried-pineapple and mango character. It’s full-bodied, very sweet and juicy on the finish. Thick and rich. Drink now or hold.

The 2011 Coutet is simpler on the nose compared to the 2010, with dried honey, white chocolate and a touch of elderflower. The palate is well balanced with a viscous opening, fresh and vibrant, with a gentle build towards a composed quince and spice finish. This improves with aeration, so do not be afraid to decant this Coutet. Tasted from an ex-château bottle served at the estate.

Light in color, the wine pops with its overripe-scented nose of pineapple, apricot, coconut, spice, and honey. Balanced, sweet, and fresh, the wine delivers a nutty, honeyed, pineapple finish.

Strong golden yellow, silver reflections. Nuances of cloves, ripe yellow tropical fruit, inviting bouquet, fine blossom honey. Powerful, ripe yellow peach fruit, some baked apple, balanced, has good length, already approachable, good ageing potential.

Bright golden colour. Very intense and pure nose with mineral hints, saffron, mango, peach, orange zest and fine spices. The palate has an extraordinary texture, very full and ample with layers of yellow fruit, candied citrus and a well-balanced, although pronounced sweetness. Very long and persistent finish with opulent yellow fruit on the finish, very promising.

Bright yellow with lime-green nuances. Intense, sweet bouquet with lots of raisins, fresh chamomile, mirabelle plums, acacia honey; medium drive because the botrytis is currently not quite as pronounced. Juicy palate, rather soft, and the acidity doesn’t (yet?) quite balance the wine’s rich body. From a vinification standpoint it’s beautifully crafted, but will it hold its own against comparable competitors as a mature wine? Hopefully!

Medium yellow with linden-green nuances, bright. Intense, sweet bouquet with plenty of raisins, fresh chamomile, mirabelle plums, acacia honey; moderate drive as the botrytis is not particularly pronounced at the moment. Juicy palate, rather soft, and the acidity does not (yet?) quite balance the wine’s rich body. From a winemaking perspective, it’s beautifully made, but will it keep up with comparable competitors at maturity? Hoping that it will:

Mineral, restrained, herbaceous bouquet with cooked pears, pineapple, chalk, smoke. Velvety, medium-bodied, mineral and full palate with good sweetness, fine acidity, pronounced aromatics, long, full finish with citrus. Can still improve. 17/20 2020 - 2040

Good overall, very balanced and refined, but not quite polished enough to become a second wine as our times expect.

A richly botrytized Barsac, with the classic Barsac structure.

The nose is elegant, fresh, and offers a touch of richness/concentration, a hint of spice, and a lovely tangy sensation. It reveals notes of quince, kumquat and, more subtly, lemon/lemon caviar, combined with small touches of marmalade and candied pear, as well as fine hints of verbena, racy minerality and spices. The palate is fruity, balanced, racy, and offers juiciness, flesh, lovely elegance, fine definition, roundness, a certain richness (an airy feel to its richness), lovely energy, a tangy backbone and dynamism. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of candied pear and marmalade and, more slightly, sweet kumquat, combined with touches of quince, lemon marmalade, hints of acacia and verbena, toasted almond, as well as fine hints of spice, a subtle touch of vanilla and a very discreet, almost brioche/biscuit note on the finish. Good length and persistence. Score: 17.25+/20

Pale green, yellow color. Intense, delicate, pure, subtle, and complex nose. Rich on the attack, very smooth as it unfolds, powerful yet endowed with that cottony touch, this noble wine develops long and sappy, with great grace. It is delicious and highly floral for 138 g of residual sugar. pH: 3.8

92-94. Barrel sample. A smooth, mellifluous wine, with its intensity masked by tight acidity. It shows the weight of the vintage, and the power of the botrytis that's interspersed with flavors of orange zest and lime. It should age magnificently.