Revue de presse

It has been a long time since Brisbane last had a visit from a sauternes producer (a colleague – who is occasionally right – reckons not since 1985, when the Comte Alexandre de Lur-Saluces from Chateau d’Yquem came to town), so it was something of an exciting event when Aline Baly from the Barsac First Growth estate Chateau Coutet arrived for lunch and a tasting. She brought with her four wines. 
 

Lire la suite : Brisbanenews.com - Sweetest Thing - A star of the Sauternes world comes to town

Château Coutet 18/20
Immense richesse en liqueur, grande longueur, grand style, encore dans ses limbes mais terriblement prometteur.
 

Lire la suite : Terre de Vins - La sélection Bettane & Desseauve

Lire la suite : Coutet dans les blogs

Lire la suite : Coutet sur Twitter

Lire la suite : Coutet sur YouTube

Chateau Coutet, 1er Cru Classe, Barsac 2011 - 18 points - 4 stars
Great density and concentration with subdued acidity this year. Rich and honeyed. (18 points)

Château Coutet 2007 Barsac ($40) - 93
The Château Coutet exhibits a medium gold hue and delicate aromas of dried mango, botrytis, absinthe, nuts, and vanilla on the nose. On the palate it offers delicious tropical fruit flavors including a touch of mango and coconut. It has good acidity and balance and a long fruit rich finish.
Importer: Bordeaux Gold LLP

When Chateau Coutet took myself and a fellow wine scribe to Rockpool for an introduction, little did we know we were guinea pigs in Aline Baly's master plan to show people that sauternes is a versatile food wine.In Australia, we think of sauternes as a dessert wine and the French-born, American-raised proprietor's one-woman mission is to convince us otherwise, demanding that we eat whatever she thought could go well with the four vintages of Chateau Coutet she poured at the table (1989 and 2005-2007). 

Lire la suite : Perth Now - Just desserts: Making a meal of it

Château Coutet,
Fresh, defined, piercing lime blossom and citrus, married to a rush of sweetness. 91-92

Lire la suite : South China Morning Post - Rain of Terroir

2011 Coutet 94-96
To be honest, I expected the 2011 Coutet to come rushing out of the blocks like Doisy-Daene; however it is not playing that game. Instead, it is almost Zen-like upon first acquaintance before revealing its life-affirming mineral aromas and traces of apricot and white peach that remain very subtle and yet tangibly there. The palate is medium-bodied with exceptional balance. There is a real sense of synergy between component parts; nothing out of place, everything focused and succinctly composed, with its trademark sense of thrilling tension on the finish. This is sheer class and a classic Coutet to add to the canon of great recent vintages. Drink 2014-2035.

This winemaker knows every inch of her Bordeaux estate.

Lire la suite : The Sidney Morning Herald - Frequent Flyer

Château Coutet - 18  
Immense richesse en liqueur, grande longueur, grand style, encore dans ses limbes mais terriblement prometteur.

Lire la suite : Bettane & Desseauve - Les primeurs 2011 à Bordeaux

Château Coutet, Barsac 2011 - 4 1/2 Stars
Mango/young pineapple fruit that has drive, stamina and long freshness.

Château Coutet Barsac, 2011 Score: 95–98
This is really packed, with heather, golden raisin, dried pineapple, fresh white peach, quince and honey notes all woven beautifully together. The long, pure, singing finish has loads in reserve.—J.M.

Château Coutet Barsac, 2011 : 93 

Jean-Marc Quarin (www.quarin.com)

Château Coutet, Barsac, sweet, 2009: 96

Château Coutet, Barsac, 1er Cru Classé, millésime 1989
Couleur or bronze, avec de l'éclat et de la densité. Le nez est encore jeune, assez intense, marqué par des notes de fruits confits, de violette et d'abricot. La prise en bouche est franche, élégante et emplis bien le palais. Le milieu de dégustation qui suit est parfaitement équilibré. Le vin a du volume et ses saveurs prolongent les notes olfactives du fruit confit et de l'abricot. La finale est ronde, charnue, avec une légère fraîcheur et une petite pointe boisée rappelant encore la barrique. très beau millésime, encore jeune, procurant déjà du plaisir à la dégustation mais qui sera à l'apogée dans quelques années.
Maison Wallop. Vins de propriétés Rue du Bon Puits (face parc expo). 49480 St Sylvain d'Anjou. Tel. 02 41 43 47 20. www.wallop.fr

2007 Château Coutet: 94
Tasted single blind against its peers. The Chateau Coutet 2007 has a very intense bouquet with lemon curd and orange blossom mixed with clear honey. There is impressive precision here, almost crystalline. The palate is mediumbodied with very fine viscous entry, great weight and intensity with racy acidity. There is also much tension cutting through the layers of viscous fruit on the sorbet-like finish. This is a typical Coutet through and through and it should age effortlessly over 20-30 years. Tasted January 2011. 

Lire la suite : Erobertparker.com Wine Advocate - Looking for Homes: 2007 and 2008 Sauternes

Château Coutet Barsac, 2009
95 points
Very lightly toasty, this is more floral for now, with lively honey-suckle and pineapple notes up front, giving way to richer hints of warm brioche, fig, glazed pear and lemon shortbread that should emerge more with time. The long, lacy finish has the poise and balance for long term cellaring. Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. Best from 2014 through 2034. From France. -J.M.

Find out what the Wine Spectator discovered about the 2009 vintage at the Bordeaux 2009 Grands Crus Tasting. Watch the video

The history of Château Coutet dates back to the 13th century, hundreds of years before anyone even dreamt of planting vines on the then-marshy, now-prosperous Médoc. Some parts of the château (pictured below) date from that period, as is obvious from even the briefest examination of the property; these parts have thick walls of stone, towers and defensive castellations. (...)

Lire la suite : The Wine Doctor - Chateau Coutet

1952 Château Coutet
1989 Château Coutet Cuvée Madame

Château Coutet, Barsac 2009: 97

Lire la suite : Wine Review Online - Chateau Coutet, Barsac

 

1952 Château Coutet 95

Tasted at the Ledbury 1950/1952 dinner. This 1952 Sauternes, not a feted vintage, far exceeded my expectations. It has a lucid golden hue. The nose is very intense with potent aromas of treacle, orange essence, Seville orange marmalade and a slight adhesive note you often find on mature Barsac. This is a nose that does not hold back, undiminished by the passing years. The palate is very harmonious and mellifluous, with what feels like a high level of botrytis. The mouth lights up with marmalade, quince and orange rind flavours that lead to a quite decadent, unctuous, almost Aszu-like finish that is more reminiscent of a 1947 Barsac. Outstanding. Tasted July 2011.

Try a dessert wine made from white grapes—anything from the classic Sauternes or Barsac (the 2008 Chateau Coutet is gorgeous...)

Lire la suite : CNN - What to drink with dessert

After the fourth course, Stephane Cheramy, the executive pastry chef at The Ritz Carlton Grand Lakes Orlando will sweetly finish things off with a trio of desserts that will be paired with Château Coutet, a Sauternes-Barsac from southern Bordeaux

These are wines from France, or Bordeaux table wines, and I appreciate the versatility of Chateau Coutet Sauternes.

Lire la suite : Sally's Place - Still Wines for New Year's Eve 2011

At a dinner at Restaurant Daniel in New York, vigneron Aline Baly of Chateau Coutet, served her Barsacs with soft-shell crabs and pressed duck.(...)

Lire la suite : Bloomberg - Serves Sweet Wines with Peking Duck, Octopus, Stinking cheeses

This six-pack began as a hunt for Sauternes and Monbazillac, France's two noble sweet wines based on Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. Those seem to be in short supply on the market - further evidence of sweet wines' tough mission - but it was only too easy to round them out with a handful of counterparts from elsewhere.

Lire la suite : San Francisco Chronicle - Sweet Wines :The Chronicle recommends

Wine Recommendation: For a classic pairing, serve Château Coutet's Barsac. While it's opulent enough to match the rich texture of the foie gras, it also shows enough restraint to avoid competing with the dish's bold flavors.

Lire la suite : Wine Enthusiast - Bordeaux Wines meet their Match

Château Coutet Premier Cru Classé 2001 : 18/20
Château Coutet Premier Cru Classé 2002 : 18,5/20
Château Coutet Premier Cru Classé 2006 : 18/20

Lire la suite : Le guide du vin 2012 du wine & business club

18/20 Château Coutet 2009 : La très grande élégance d'un sauternes princier, puissant mais pur et précis. L'harmonie des saveurs, la symphonie des arômes, la trame du terroir : tout y est, dans un équilibre magistral. 

Stephen Brook introduces a blind comparative tasting of Bordeaux's greatest sweet wines from 2001 and 2007, the most highly regarded vintages of the decade. But could be, Margaret Rand, and Michael Schuster identify the communal origine of the wine? And would that matter away?

Lire la suite : The World of Fine Wine - Shade of Gold Sauternes V Barsac

Château Coutet 2009 Barsac 17.5 - Drink 2014-2034 

Very rich and ripe. Very sweet and pear juice and much bigger than the Climens. Lower acid. Long.

Lire la suite : Jancisrobinson.com - So how do the 2009s look in bottle?

CHÂTEAU COUTET Barsac 2008 Score: 90

A bright, high-toned style, with glazed pear and peach fruit aromas and flavors backed by flashes of candied green plum and heather honey. Quite sweet on the finish, but long and pure. Drink now through 2021. 2,915 cases made. —J.M.

Lire la suite : Dessert Wines and Expresso Macarons with Chocolate Caramel for Halloween

Note : 94/100 - Château Coutet - Millesime 2010

Vin blanc doux - Sauternes A.O.C.

Primeur - Robe or clair. Nez d'agrumes et de fruits exotiques. Belle attaque opulente, sur le fruit, enrobée de fraîcheur. Finale chaleureuse et puissante. Bonne présence en bouche.

Lire la suite : Gilbert & Gaillard Wine International - Wine guide 2012

The precocious weather also created unusual conditions in Sauternes, Bordeaux's sweet wine region. Chateau Coutet owner Aline Baly reported small crop yields and "a truly exceptional tempo" for the harvest.

Lire la suite : AFP - Close call for Bordeaux wines

Aline Baly, Château Coutet, Barsac
"The 2011 harvest is taking place under exceptional climatic conditions. Over the course of the past two weeks we have observed the morning mists, followed by sunny afternoons. In addition, we have experienced some small precipitations that allowed the acceleration of the Botrytis cinerea. Compared to typical years, the noble rot is developing extremely rapidly and very uniformly. These elements, combined, are truly optimal and we believe that the 2011 vintage will be marked by quality, even if we expect small quantities due to the presence of less fruit on the vines...

Lire la suite : Wine Spectator -Stirring the lees with james molesworth

Chateau Coutet, 1er Cru Classe, Barsac 2007
Rich apricot and peach nose. Sweet and creamy, but also lifted and stylish; poised thanks to fine acidity, elegant, beautifully balanced and very long. Drink 2012-2028. Alc: 14%  (18 points)

1971 Château Coutet 95

Tasted at Jasper Morris’s book launch at the Ledbury. What a fabulous way to end a meal with probably the best Coutet of the 1970s. The ’71 has an intense bouquet with scents of mandarin, quince, dried honey and a touch of kerosene. The palate has a thrilling, viscous entry with honey, quince, crème-brulee and a touch of brown sugar with very good acidity slicing through what feels like a lot of botrytized fruit. There is something Germanic towards the finish, but at nigh 40-years young, this is definitely a Coutet to seek out. Tasted October 2010. - 95

Château Coutet Premier Cru Classé 2010: 17,5
Château Coutet Premier Cru Classé 2009: 18
Château Coutet Premier Cru Classé 2008: 16.5
Château Coutet Premier Cru Classé 2007: 18.5

Lire la suite : RVF - Le Guide des meilleurs vins de France

Château Coutet 2007 - 18/20

Lire la suite : Le guide des vins de France 2012

From a small place comes small production. Aline Baly, Director of Marketing and third-generation owner of Chateau Coutet in Barsac-Sauternes explains that “to produce a very good wine, a producer will yield approximately a bottle per vine; the classified growths of Sauternes and Barsac produce approximately one glass per vine, due to the concentration level attained by the noble rot.” But it’s not just what happens in the vineyard that’s special: Baly explains another reason why Sauternes’ sweeties have been sought out for centuries, “Many claim that these wines have some aphrodisiac virtues … Sweet seduction in a bottle!”

Lire la suite : Palate press - How Sweet It Is: Discovering the World’s Most Famous Dessert Wines

18+ : Arômes subtils d'ananas et de fleur d'oranger, beau rôti, bouche très vive et très concentrée, avec une structure éblouissante. Beaucoup de notes florales dans ce barsac, subtils arômes de fleur d'oranger et d'orange confite. Très belle minéralité, et salinité, qui lui confère des possibilités gastronomiques multiples. Excellent.

A Vinexpo, les viticulteurs veulent séduire les papilles des acheteurs

"Le niveau d'acidité des Sauternes est merveilleux avec toutes sortes de plats mais les vieux millésimes sont encore plus adaptés et peuvent se déguster du début jusqu'à la fin du repas", conseille Jeannie Cho Lee, jugeant "très fréquent que la cuisine change les arômes des vins". (...)

Lire la suite : Le Point.fr - A Vinexpo, les viticulteurs veulent séduire les papilles des acheteurs

Ch Coutet 1996 Barsac 18 - Drink 2008-2024 

Greenish gold. Clean, floral and friendly on the nose. Very appealing. Lots of clean pear juice flavour with good tang and energy on the finish. Very easy to like - pretty sweet but not heavy. Very long.

Château Coutet 2007 Barsac 93 

The 2007 Château Coutet exhibits a medium gold hue and delicate aromas of dried mango, botrytis, absinthe, nuts, and vanilla on the nose. On the palate it offers delicious tropical fruit flavors including a touch of mango and coconut. It has good acidity and balance and a long fruit rich finish. Importer : Bordeaux Gold LLP.  

 For sweet wine lovers, it can be hard to beat the botrytised Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon blends of Sauternes and Barsac. For these appellations, 2008 is a very solid vintage, though not in the league of 2007, 2005 or 2001.  
"The quality is there, but not the quantity, due to spring frost," say Aline Baly of Château Coutet in Barsac, whose 2008 scored an outstanding 90 points ($68). "It's a fresh vintage that will probably progress a little faster than '09."
(...)The Château Coutet Barsac Cuvée Madame 1997 (93, $300) comprises just 133 cases. The 100 percent Sémillon cuvée shows impressive depth and power while still staying fresh, with notes of blood orange and date...

Lire la suite : Wine Spectator - The Great Escape

Château Coutet Barsac, Cuvée Madame 1997 - 93
Very rich, with lush, creamy apricot, date, melon and blood orange aromas and flavors that all glide through the broad, marzipan-tinged finish. Powerful and just starting to unwind. Drink now through 2021. 133 cases made.
Le vin présente une essence riche et dense d’abricot, de figue, de pêche glacée et des notes de dattes, enveloppées d’alléchants arômes de thé vert, de coing et de camomille. Finale très longue, avec une sensation de crémeux qui se prolonge jusqu’au bout. A boire dès à présent et jusqu'en 2020. 104 caisses produites.

Château Coutet Barsac, Cuvée Madame 1995 - 94
This has a rich, dense core of apricot, fig, glazed peach and date notes, surrounded by alluring green tea, quince and chamomile. Superlong on the finish, with a creamy feel that just sails on. Drink now through 2020. 104 cases made.
Le vin se montre très riche, avec une belle intensité d’arômes de crème d’abricot, de datte, de melon et d'orange sanguine s’épanouissant dans l’ensemble. Puissant, il commence tout juste à se dévoiler. A boire dès à présent et jusqu'en 2021. 133 caisses produites.

Château Coutet 1er Cru Barsac - 18,5/19+**
Lemony sweet, wonderfully fresh and mineral to smell; a vital, concentrated wine, a superb, rich Barsac balance; intensly sweet to taste, a fine, subtle unctuosity of texture, with a pronounced underlying limestone minerality and spicy botrytis complexity. Vivid, complex, racy, long, and succulent, with excellent length, fresh, vital, defining acidity, and lovely, sweet, lemon-and-mineral-infused aromatic persistence, the richness notwithstanding, this still has the classic Barsac restraint of style. Absolutely lovely wine, complete and exciting, a very fine Coutet indeed. if this is representative of the final bottling (and I am told it has been assembled), this will be a great Coutet. 2015-35+.
Michael Schuster.

2010 Coutet 93-95
The 2010 Chateau Coutet has 154-gms/litre residual sugar, one of the highest in Sauternes/Barsac. It is endowed with a delightful bouquet of freshly sliced mango, Tropicana and a touch of honey, with good definition and minerality. The palate is medium-bodied with very impressive balance and poise, and is slightly viscous in the mouth, with almond, lemon curd and a touch of orange peel. The finish is composed and long. The 2010 Coutet is very impressive for the vintage, although I suggest not quite  reaching the stellar heights of the magnificent 2009.

Lire la suite : Erobertparker.com Wine Advocate - Throw Another Six: Sauternes 2010

Château Coutet 16,5  
Réduction, grillé, du bois mêlé au grillé, bouche dense, épicée, beaucoup de liqueur, puissant, riche, complexe, belles saveurs de fruiuts blancs mûrs.

Lire la suite : Le Point - Bordeaux, le Millésime 2010

2010 Coutet 93-95
The 2010 Chateau Coutet has 154-gms/litre residual sugar, one of the highest in Sauternes/Barsac. It is endowed with a delightful bouquet of freshly sliced mango, Tropicana and a touch of honey, with good definition and minerality. The palate is medium-bodied with very impressive balance and poise, and is slightly viscous in the mouth, with almond, lemon curd and a touch of orange peel. The finish is composed and long. The 2010 Coutet is very impressive for the vintage, although I suggest not quite  reaching the stellar heights of the magnificent 2009.

Lire la suite : Robert Parker's Wine Advocate - Swinging 62's

Château Coutet 19  
Excellent équilibre général, beaucoup de race et de classe, fraîcheur superlative, grande suite en bouche, grand vin. 19

Lire la suite : Tast Pro - Le Millésime 2010 à Bordeaux

Château Coutet Barsac 17  
Robe paille. Nez fruits confits. bouche l'attaque est ample, lebeau milieu de bouche généreux avec du volume, la finale est un rien amère, mais le tout d'une grande richesse. L'élégance viendra avec le temps. 14° et 156 g/l.

Château Coutet 2010 Barsac 18 - Drink 2022-2040 

 
Smudgy and interesting, already, on the nose. lots of richness and smothness. really. This approaches the idea of a classic vintage with its density and concentration. Long. Very Fine. RS 156g/L, TA 4.2 , 14°.

Lire la suite : Jancisrobinson.com - Bordeaux 2010 - Sweet Whites

 (...) Château Coutet other Barsac producers are working to acquaint wine consumers with the idea of pairing sweet wine with savory food.  “A lot of effort has been put forward to partner with local chefs and in planning Sauternes-Barsac dining experiences with local specialties, especially in North America and Asia.  In this way we can show that our wines not only go well with French classics but are flexible enough to be paired with local specialties,” says Baly.

Lire la suite : Wine Review Online - Barsac Stands on Its Own

Château Coutet 2010
17-18/20
Coutet affiche à peu de choses près le même équilibre qu'en 2009 (14°, 159g de sucre et 3,7 d'acidité totale) et même supérieur à l'équilibre habituellement atteint par la fameuse Cuvée Madame, qui ne sera pas produite en 2010. Au total, six tries ont été effectuées. Les trois premières constitueront le grand vin avec un rendement de 11hL/ha. unBarsac très onctueux, qui devra gagner une pointe d'acidité supplémentaire dans l'assemblage final.
 

93–95 Château Coutet 2010 Barsac. Powerfully rich wine, very concentrated, rich, with a great balance between acidity and honey and apricot flavors. Finely rich. – R.V.

Château Coutet, Barsac 2010, Score: 93-96
Really ripe and fleshy, offering delicious glazed peach, apricot and honey notes, with lots of orange blossom and fig and a very rich finish. Starting to take shape now too. Impressive. --J.M.