Chateau Couhins-Lurton 2020

The 2020 Couhins-Lurton Blanc has turned out very well, offering up aromas of pink grapefruit, white flowers, Sauvignon botanicals, pastry cream and wet stones. Medium to full-bodied, chiseled and incise, with a satiny attack that segues into a bright, electric palate, it's more vibrant and electric than the ampler, fleshier 2019. It was bottled under Diam 30.

Subtly wood aged, this ripe wine is tight with some spice as well as lemon and tropical fruits. The wine has weight and a beautiful texture. Drink from 2025.

Grassy notes with crisp apple, pear and white flowers. Supremely lived and finessed on the palate with crisp and crunchy citrus fruits, fresh acidities and a long, lifted finish. Has some weight, depth and layering to the mid-palate with a honeyed, caramel texture that is so appealing. Feels structured and well put together with lots of life and energy. A delicious wine worth seeking out.

Attractive and complex nose of fennel, grapefruit pith, green papaya, cloves, green apples and lime curd. Beautifully textured and phenolic, with a medium to full body and bright acidity. Layered. Excellent focus. Drink or hold.

100% Sauvignon Blanc. Fermented and aged 12 months in barrel (70%) and amphorae (30%) followed by a further six months in tank on lees. Tight and reined-in on the nose. Long and focused but definitely more volume and gras on the palate than in the past. Dry, clean finish. Less austere than the old model so perhaps greater all-round appeal. (JL)

Zesty yellow citrus, white peach, pineapple and green apples are found from start to finish in this forward, spicy, already-delicious Bordeaux Blanc. Drink from 2023-2032.

Light greenish yellow, with silver reflections. Somewhat restrained, fine yellow fruit nuances of mango and papaya, some blossom honey and a little nougat in the background. Taut, tightly meshed, white fruit, finesse-rich acidity, fine sweetness on the finish. The wine grips well, seems light on its feet, and has freshness and length.

Pure and stony aromas with pale stone fruit, ripe citrus and some grassy notes. A discreet style with good purity and grip with emphasis on freshness offering bright stone fruit flavours with a slight hint of oak and a long pure finish.

Bright pink grapefruit, honeyed citrus, and a touch of chalky minerality all emerge from the 2020 Château Couhins-Lurton Blanc, another vibrant, clean, medium-bodied 2020 white that brings both richness and freshness. I like it today but see no reason why it shouldn't evolve for over a decade.

Stands out heads and shoulders above many in the vintage for its personality and crunch. Juicy on the finish, elderflower, citrus, white peach, stone fruit, laser focused and pummice stone minerality, this is packed with Pessac-Léognan confidence, showing the deft touch of owner and winemaker Jacques Lurton. An upgrade from En Primeur.

The 2020 white Couhins-Lurton skips from the glass with scents of white peaches, grapefruit oil, and yuzu, followed by hints of honeysuckle, coriander seed, and sea spray. The medium-bodied palate delivers compelling tension with bags of bright, expressive stone fruit and apple-inspired flavors, finishing with lovely poise.

93-94

A golden, sun-drenched aromatic profile, with yellow fruits and flowers—very welcoming. On the palate, it’s opulent, like a château filled with Louis XIV furniture: a rich texture that coats the palate, with a pleasant minerality on the finish.

The bouquet of Couhins-Lurton is marked by great freshness, with a youthful, vibrant profile that unfolds slowly. With aeration, the initial reductive notes give way to hints of lemongrass, anise and figs. The wine has body and a certain breadth, yet it remains true to the style Jacques Lurton seeks to highlight in his wines: finesse and elegance. A round, savory wine, well supported by its structure.

Pale color. Moderately intense nose with ripe fruit. Pleasant. Juicy on the attack, rather full-bodied on the mid-palate, the wine caresses the palate with flavor through to the finish. Normal length.

The airy nose reveals a broad aromatic palette of acacia, lemon and linden blossom, followed by star anise. On the palate, the attack is lively, and the very slight hollow on the mid-palate quickly fades, giving way to a very Sauvignon-like finish, tightly focused around lime.