Château Coutet Sauternes-Barsac 2019 - 1er Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Coutet (pronounced “Coutette,” in the Gascon style) is destined to be the eternal rival of Climens in Barsac—which is by no means a miserable fate. Its soils are slightly different, and while the citrus notes derived from the limestone subsoil are present, Coutet produces wines that are a bit more lively and mineral-driven than Climens. In recent vintages, the wine has shown greater richness and body, no doubt spurred on by the competition with its peers. The 2014 vintage will not match the château’s greatest vintages, but the 2015 is expected to dazzle.

Decanter

About the wine:

A magnificent nose full of exotic spices and candied fruits (orange, apricot, honey). On the palate, it has a lovely, creamy texture—rich yet smooth, like caramel. The wine is quite well-defined and straightforward, yet round and generous (pineapple, mango, violet). It’s still a bit young but brimming with liveliness, with acidity that brings energy and vibrancy throughout. Lively and radiant. 2027–2045

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

The 2019 Coutet, with its pale lemon-gold color, is a true tour de force from the very start, bursting in the glass with incredibly intense aromas of mandarin peel, linden blossoms, and lemon marmalade, centered around notes of pineapple upside-down cake, candied ginger, ripe apricots, and clover honey, along with hints of chanterelle mushrooms and musk. The palate is just as electric and exhilarating, dancing across the palate with a myriad of flavors of candied citrus, stone fruits, and citrus, underpinned by a racy backbone of acidity, finishing with a beautifully textured, mineral-driven finale of breathtaking length. Beyond all that, it is simply delicious. 2025–2055

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

Immediately, it transports us to the soil of Barsac with its subtle hint of iron. With great aromatic purity and a vibrant bouquet, it smells of candied lemon. On the palate, it draws on the limestone-rich character of its terroir, which imbues it with great vitality. A finely crafted wine, despite its richness. Masterful.

About the estate:

This Premier Grand Cru Classé is one of the two leading estates in Barsac, along with Climens. On most of the plots, the famous red soil—a mixture of iron oxide and limestone—gives the wine an extra edge of liveliness compared to its close neighbors with equivalent sugar content. Aromas of citrus and acacia bring it closer to Climens, but Coutet generally opens up more quickly and often has slightly less sweetness, with the exception of the famous “crème de tête” known as the Madame cuvée. Philippe Baly from Alsace and his brother Dominique, along with his daughter Aline, have been managing the estate with great care since their father purchased it in 1977. We have been following this consistently excellent estate for many years.

Le Figaro vins

About the wine:

The nose is exceptionally pure, with notes of dried apricot and currants—generous yet lively and well-defined. On the palate, a deep, lingering flavor deliciously coats the palate, with a very seductive profile featuring passion fruit, lime, and yellow peach.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

Such freshness, authenticity, and character! The minerality and fruit create a beautiful harmony through notes of rhubarb and apples, along with aromas of caramelized apples. This harmony carries over to the palate, where liveliness, spirit, and smoothness are in perfect balance. This Coutet has excellent aging potential, and I believe it hasn’t yet revealed its full potential… but it’s definitely there. It will have time to reveal it over the coming decades. A salty, lingering finish. 2026–2074

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is fruity, syrupy, fresh, elegant, and refined, with a certain vibrancy. It features notes of quince, lemon paste, and, more subtly, mandarin paste, combined with hints of pineapple in syrup, a touch of apricot, crushed mango, as well as subtle hints of saffron, refined minerality, and an almost imperceptible hint of pastry. On the palate, it is fruity, beautifully balanced, and well-structured, offering juiciness, richness, body, creaminess, energy, a tangy backbone, and tension. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of quince paste, candied lemon, and, more subtly, crystallized mandarin, combined with hints of dried apricot, pineapple in syrup, and mango, as well as hints of verbena, peach blossoms, saffron, and lime, along with a subtle hint of refined minerality, almond, and an almost imperceptible hint of cinnamon (in the background). Good length. A lovely success!

Anthocyanes - Yohan Castaing

About the wine:

Pear, exotic notes, white fruits, and magnificent floral aromas. Beautiful richness, structure, texture, and length, with a fresh, airy finish. Citrus, candied ginger. A very appealing Coutet with a distinct character.