| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Sauternes and Barsac |
| Colour | Sweet White |
| Type | Still |
View all vintages of this wine | View all wines by Château Coutet
Ex-chateau bottle tasted blind in Sauternes. This bottle of Coutet '03 was showing slight reduction on the geranium-scented nose, although it seems to sort that out and offer lanolin and melted wax aromas with time. The palate is viscous and quite spicy on the entry - dried honey, marjoram, white pepper and quince, whilst the finish offers an attractive oxidative note. Coutet's limestone soils mean it thrives on acidity and race, but in 2003 I think the heat of the summer just knocked this great Barsac sideways. Drink now-2018.
Honey, apple tart and lemon rind. Full-bodied, medium-sweet and very spicy with intense flavors of mace, apple and honey. Long finish. Thick and powerful. Best after 2010. 4,165 cases made.
The 2003 Coutet is pale to medium gold colored and leaps from the glass with vivacious notes of baked peaches, key lime pie and candied orange peel with hints of lime leaves, praline and lemon curd. The rich, expressive palate is laden with spicy layers, framed by lively acid and finishing on a crème caramel note. Drink Date 2018 - 2028.
Greenish gold. Rather light, leafy nose - not one of the most impressive. Sweet start. Burnt edge. Quite neat and very long. Not bad at all but just overwhelmed by some more complex and more obviously sweet wines.
Lovely aristocratic balance, intensely sweet; vividly succulent, mineral-backed flavour, fresh, racy and very long. Intensity without heaviness - a great Barsac.
It is against my better judgment to taste the sweet wines of Barsac and Sauternes at such an early age, as I find they typically require at least 12 months to reveal the definition/delineation so essential in these creamy, creme brulee, and honeysuckle-flavored offerings. Nevertheless, because this vintage is so highly regarded, I tasted through most of the top estates. The 2003s appear to be somewhat in the style of the 1990s, with high levels of residual sugar (higher than 2001 for the most part) as well as botrytis, low acidity, and fat, full-bodied personalities. This region’s harvest began extremely early (early September), and was completely finished within three weeks. It does not appear that the nobleness and racy richness of the 2001 vintage will be found in the 2003s, but readers who like the big, flamboyant, over the top style of the 1990s will enjoy the 2003s even more than I did.
Unlike most of my red wine tastings, this offering was only tasted once. Readers should keep in mind that this a very early, pre-bottling judgment from very unevolved wine that is not nearly as defined and easy to evaluate as the reds.
White peaches and mace with plenty of botrytis. Full-bodied, very sweet but extremely delicate. Long and exciting. Continues on the palate for minutes, with a peach tart, honey and sliced peach character. Very fresh.
