Chateau Coutet 2018

Rather bold, with lots of ginger and graham cracker details up front, followed by warm glazed peach and pineapple flavors. A flash of green tea in the background adds a tantalizing note. Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc and Muscadelle. Drink now through 2032. 1,458 cases made.

Medium straw-gold, this is darker than usual in colour. The nose shows robust peach and apricot aromas with just a trace of honey. Despite the modest alcohol, this seems quite rich and unctuous, with no lack of botrytis. There's weight without heaviness and an enticing creaminess. The fruit is certainly attractive but the acidity is less than optimal so it does lack some length. Nonetheless, it's holding up well with good concentration on the finish, which shows some ripe citrus flavours as well as peach. Organic.

A delicate, refined Barsac with dried lemon, apricot and a medium-sweet palate. Medium body. Bright finish. Lighter style of Coutet. Drink now.

75% Sémillon, 23% Sauvignon Blanc, 2% Muscadelle. Deep gold. Highly spiced, smelling of burnished gold and a touch of mushroom. So intense but also notably fresh for this vintage. Ripe, broad and full of oranges and apricots. Needs a little more acidity and botrytis complexity for greatness but masses of sweet pleasure and a long almondy finish. (JH)

With a dark honey-colored hue, right off the bat the wine opens with honey, roasted nuts, overripe tangerine, spice, and perfectly ripe pineapple. With all the sweetness you need, buttressed by refreshing acidity, the orange-centered tropical fruit and honey-coated finish is just great. This is so good now, it’s impossible not to be loving it. But wait at least 5 years, as it’s going to be even better with age.

Luminous golden yellow with delicate lime-green highlights. Enchanting bouquet of Grand Marnier Centenario, candied mandarins and mango chutney. On the second nose, buttery speculoos, vanilla seeds and linden blossom honey. On the complex palate, an oily texture and peppery extract sweetness, a dense body supported by fresh acidity. In the catapult-like finish, a full basket of ripe apricots, blood orange zest and greengage compote. A magnificent performance, already during the en primeur tastings, the Barsac consequently receives a higher rating.

Kunz barrel sample 19: Velvety, dense, creamy, and closed bouquet, mirabelle jelly, sweet apple juice, linden blossom, vanilla powder, yellow peach. Velvety, opulent, powerful palate with a generous, creamy structure, opulent sweetness, fine acidity, diverse aromatics, long, powerful finish. Still has room to improve.

Silky, dense, creamy, and closed bouquet, mirabelle plum jelly, sweet apple juice, linden blossom, vanilla powder, yellow peach. A silkier, opulent, powerful palate with a generous, creamy structure, opulent sweetness, fine acidity, complex aromatics, long, vigorous finish. Can improve further. 18/20 2025 - 2050

The 2018 Coutet is medium lemon-yellow in color. It has oxidative notes of bruised apples and hay, with hints of butterscotch and toasted almonds. The palate is evolving, with a lively backbone and a nutty finish.

Sumptuous nose between candied orange and fruitcake. It has sap and depth thanks to an abundant liqueur, yet tempered by the strength of the Barsac terroir that brings brightness to the fruit. What balance, what substance on the palate. It develops towards mirabelle plum and candied apricot. Sumptuous.

A nose marked by pure apricot, white peach and peach kernels, unfolding on the palate with notes of dried apricot, still-fresh aromatic herbs, rose and delicately salted nuts. A delight.

Golden yellow. A bouquet with plenty of character, showing a chalky side very reminiscent of Barsac, along with floral and earthy nuances with celery. I also detect notes of mandarins, white peaches, and apricots. On the palate, the wine has pedigree and body. Its acidic structure gives it the necessary backbone, while the sweetness highlights the wine’s charming and subtle side. Lovely aromatic persistence on the finish. A wine that reveals itself slowly.

Medium greenish yellow, silver reflections. Fresh orange zest, discreet blossom honey, a hint of wood. Medium body, discreet sweetness, clean but nothing more, a kind of Spätlese without botrytis.

95–97. Barrel Sample. This wine's ripeness is intense, just hinting at an impressive future. The dry core of botrytis balances the honey and the spice, along with fresh lemon curd. This is likely to be a very fine wine.