La Dame de Couhins - Second Vin du Château Couhins 2012

Bettane & Desseauve

About wine:

Bright golden yellow-green color, delicately fruity, mineral, and quite refined nose, full-bodied and very aromatic palate, with a strong predominance of citrus aromas, lots of liveliness on the finish, a very refreshing white wine.

About the estate:

This vintage, not to be confused with Couhins-Lurton, belongs to INRA, which for a long time, despite its classification, did little to promote it. This is no longer the case, and a highly competent technical team is gradually bringing it up to the level of its peers. Only the white wine is classified, and it is proportionally more refined than the red, but the latter is improving as the vines age.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

Classified as a white wine, this 25-hectare vineyard located on the outskirts of Bordeaux belonged to the Gasqueton family, long-time owners of Calon Ségur (Saint-Estèphe), before being acquired in 1968 by INRA, which made it its showcase for viticultural research.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

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

About the estate:

Since 1968, INRA has owned this Graves classified growth. Under the leadership of Dominique Forget, Couhins (not to be confused with its neighbor Couhins-Lurton) is now both a wine research and production site. Indeed, this beautiful terroir is home to the most advanced research on plant material (clonal selections, rootstocks, etc.). Its vineyard is therefore a source of many innovations, which have enabled a large number of winegrowers to overcome the difficulties involved in growing vines. At the same time, a precise, plot-by-plot approach to viticulture is practiced here. The white wines (often 100% Sauvignon) are beautifully crafted, fairly accessible, and can be enjoyed very young. The reds often lack depth and substance, with finishes that are always too liquid. However, the latest vintages are denser and more concentrated. The INRA regularly grants investments to improve production facilities. The estate expanded during the year with an additional hectare of Sauvignon Blanc and still has two hectares to plant to quickly reach a total area of 30 hectares (7 hectares of white and 23 hectares of red).