Château Coutet 2020

Special Price $41.85 Average US Price $66.00
In Stock   Usually ships in 2-5 days, weather permitting
SKU
1499-2020
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• Domaine: Château Coutet
• Appellation: Sauternes, Barsac
• Classification: First Growth, Premier Grand Cru Classé
• Origin: Left Bank, Bordeaux, France

Thomas Jefferson, third president of the United States, arguably America's first French wine connoisseur, acknowledged Château Coutet as "the best Sauternes in Barsac."

Château Coutet prides itself on crafting some of the most luscious, elegant, and stunning Sauternes.  This Barsac estate has a long history of excellence and critical acclaim that dates well before it was ranked as a Premiere Cru Classé property during the 1855 Classification of Sauternes and Barsac.  The wine of this estate is undoubtably thrilling, and production here has been a family affair since 1977.  For those who understand and appreciate the beautiful, honeyed nectar of a classic Sauternes, Château Coutet is a undoubtably a worthy producer. 
 
Château Coutet has a long history of being an excellent producer of Sauternes.  The property’s origins date back to the 13th Century when the estate was a fortress.  One can tell by simply taking one look at the striking, formidable architecture at the estate there is a longstanding history here.  The estate began producing wine in 1643, when Charles le Guérin, known as the Lord of Coutet, made it one of the first vineyards in the Sauternes Appellation.  The property was a favorite among the American President and oenophile Thomas Jefferson when he visited France.  He proudly declared Château Coutet as the best Sauternes in Barsac.  Château Coutet remained in the hands of Charles le Guérin’s  descendants until 1788.  The property was acquired by Gabriel-Barthelemy-Romain de Filhot, the president of the Bordeaux parliament and a cousin of the former owner of the estate.  During the French Revolution, the French Government seized the property, and unfortunately de Filhot was a casualty of the terror.  The property changed hands many times until it was acquired by Marcel Baly and his two sons, Philippe and Dominique, in 1977.  The Baly family enlisted the winemaking team over at Château Mouton Rothschild to assist with winemaking operations and the wine has never been better. 
 
For those who understand Sauternes, they are very aware that the regions of Sauternes and Barsac are very special for a variety of reasons.  The terroir is unique here, and due to a special variety of factors, the plantings of Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle are infected with the wonderful noble rot, or botrytis.  Once botrytis infects these grapes, it removes the water from them and raisinates them.  These raisinated grapes are then fermented when they have richly concentrated sugar levels.  This results in a naturally sweet wine. And the case at Château Coutet is no different.  Château Coutet is situated in a very special part of Barsac, which is a playground for botrytis.  Their vines thrive in a mixture of clay and limestone soils, which lend a freshness to this rich honeyed beverage. 

Though the wine of Château Coutet is a sweet wine, it is highly versatile and can dazzle when paired with the appropriate food.  Though Sauternes is beautiful with desserts such as fruit tarts, it is worth thinking outside the box when pairing this delicious wine with food. Try pairing your bottle of Château Coutet with roast chicken, cheeses of all kinds, or any fois gras terrine with caramelized onions. 

Tasting Notes

"Bright, yellow gold colour, with citrus, apricot, pineapple and a ton of mango fruits on the palate. Silky texture with spikes of lime juice bringing pep and definition. Saffron and white pepper add even more lift through the finish, this is excellent and easy to recommend." Jane Anson, Bordeaux Primeur Tastings (4/30/2021) Rating: 94 Drink: 2022-2050



More Information
LWIN 1008922
Stock Status In Stock
Appellation Barsac
Vintage 2020
Brand Château Coutet
Shipping Weight 3.000000
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The Barsac appellation is a renowned wine-producing region located in Bordeaux, known for its exceptional sweet wines. Barsac is a small village on the Left Bank of the Garonne River. Spanning approximately 600 hectares, the Barsac appellation shares many characteristics with its famous neighbor Sauternes

The origins of viticulture in Barsac date back several centuries with a rich history and a tradition of producing high-quality sweet wines. The soils in Barsac are composed of gravel and sand over a limestone subsoil which allows excellent drainage and concentrates the aromas in the grapes. 

AOC Barsac and AOC Sauternes date from September 1936. Barsac wines are often distinguished by a particular freshness and liveliness that sets them apart from those of Sauternes. 

Barsac are mainly based on the Sémillon grape variety, making these the finest wines in the world and sometimes other grape varieties of Barsac wines such as Sauvignon Blanc, Sauvignon gris, Muscadelle are added to create a unique wine. 

Among the most iconic châteaux of the Barsac appellation are Château Coutet and Château Climens which are classified as premier cru (First Growths) in the 1855 classification both recognized for their exceptional quality. 

Other estates are classified Second Growths such as Château de Myrat, Château Doisy-Daene, Château Doisy-Dubroca, Château Doisy-Vedrines, Château Broustet, Château Nairac, Château Caillou and Château Suau. 

 

Footnotes on Futures, Pre-Arrivals, and potential US Tariffs: 

1. As of June 15, 2021, the US and the EU agreed to suspend tariffs resulting from the Boeing-Airbus aircraft trade disputes. Accordingly, such import taxes are now suspended for the next five years.

2. Futures are expected to be available for delivery two years after the sales (e.g., the 2022 vintage, sold in 2023, will be delivered in 2025 mostly, or 2026 if the producer ages the wine longer).

3. Pre-Arrivals are items currently stored in our Bordeaux cellar or in transit from France to the US. It usually takes 1-6 months for Pre-Arrivals to become available for delivery, depending on the stage of the import process.

4. Regarding futures and pre-arrivals, we cannot guarantee specific delivery dates, which factors beyond our control may impact. However, we will notify you once your wine arrives in our cellar.

5. While a buyer of Bordeaux wine futures locks in an allocation of the specified items, the final delivery of the purchased items from France to the US may be impacted by intervening and unforeseeable events. Despite our due diligence, additional costs or delays may be caused by such intervening and unforeseen events and "an irresistible, superhuman cause, or by the act of public enemies of the state of California or the United States."  In such circumstances, if a buyer does not accept unforeseeable costs or delays, the sole and exclusive remedy is a cancellation of the futures order concerned and a refund of the original purchase price. We are NOT liable for any lost profits on a canceled order.

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