Château Coutet 2023

Subtle, restrained, showing depth, with citrus notes; on the palate, opulence and class, two mouthfuls full of wine, a Rubenesque lady with charm and elegance; delicate finish on candied citrus. Can age.

Superb Barsac energy and keen spice, almost Cayenne pepper with pronounced ginger, clove and both dry and fresh fig. Tasted twice with the same beguiling results, this wonderful wine exudes balance that reflects both opulence and verve (165 grams per litre of residual sugar, 3.66 pH). The acidity makes this wine vivacious and mouthwatering, so try with Thai curry or Szechuan cuisine—or just on its own. A vibrant, late-harvest Barsac and a top wine of the vintage.

The 2023 Coutet has a fresh and quite saline bouquet with yellow plum, sea spray and quince scents that unfold with time. The palate is well balanced with a very harmonious and mellifluous opening, a killer line of Coutet's signature acidity that imparts superb mineralité on the finish. Wonderful.

Kicking off with aromas of candied oranges, mango, tangerine, pineapple, and apricot, all coated in honey and spices. The palate continues along the same theme with its perfect, racy acidity, so you get to enjoy all those beautiful, honeyed, sweet, ripe, and overripe fruits, yet the wine always feels vibrant and fresh. Drink from 2027-2055.

Pale golden yellow, silver reflections. Floral touch, white peach, delicate background with apricot and pineapple, inviting bouquet. Medium complexity, sweet tropical fruit, fine honey note, mineral, integrated acidity, balanced, with a certain elegance and length.

Coutet is delivering exceptional wines year after year, and this is right up there as one of the best of the 2023 vintage. Love the twist of acidity that runs right through the grated ginger and white peach, totally delicious, lingering and sleek, with fennel, anis, grilled pineapple, dried mango and saffron. Harvest between September 20 and October 11. Waves of flavour that keep you engaged and smiling.

Score: 92–94. Very fresh notes of peppermint, saffron-poached pear, and slightly sappy aromas make for an enticing nose. The palate is much rounder, with a silky texture of apricot compote, Victoria pineapple, and mango. A few notes of saffron honey on the finish add an extra layer of complexity.

The bouquet is very airy and fresh with a hint of rose. While the palate surprises with a stimulating attack (ginger and white pepper), the liqueur proves fine, elongated and persistent, developing a range of flavors such as pineapple, pear, and imperial mandarin on the finish. Original and elegant.

This delivers a frank, inviting and beautifully pure burst of pineapple in both gelée and sorbet form, holding center stage while orange blossom, elderflower, jasmine and green almond notes swirl around. Packed and dense but fresh and crackling with energy as everything spills through the lengthy finish with focus and clarity. A beauty. Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. Drink now through 2060.

Its limestone freshness sets the scene and decisively signals its leading role with arguments that are hard to refute! Chalky nuances mingle with aromas of stone fruit and earthy notes (celery, radish), followed by a hint of citrus zest. Dense and silky on the attack, the wine stands out for its concentration and character. It is driven by a structuring tension that partners with sweetness to create an exceptional symbiosis. The finish also shows a remarkable ability to combine sweetness and salinity! The wine is built for decades, without ruling out the pleasure of enjoying it in its youth. Each person must find their own truth, but it may well change over the decades! A truly great Coutet; it’s almost become a habit!

Golden color. Intense, fruity, suave and complex nose. A fresh hint of almonds emerges when the glass is swirled. Precise on the attack, juicy mid-palate, with a classy, silky touch; the wine melts on the palate, long and full of sap. Very good.