Critics Ratings

1996:
‘Already deep coppery golden, toasty, really quite sweet and very nicely balanced and appetisingly middle aged.’ – Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 18/20 (Mar 2017)

‘Healthy pale color. Ethereal, highly complex nose combines floral and herbal scents with notes of pineapple, marzipan, mint and spicy oak. Moderately viscous, sweet and shapely; concentrated and fresh. Like the '97, this is silky and suave. The very long, ripe finish hints at honey and caramel.’ – Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, 91/100 (Jul 1999)

‘A cool, light-bodied wine with a greenish hue to its light gold color, this ripe, medium-bodied Barsac reveals pain grille notes along with fresh, citrusy tropical fruit, medium body, some sweetness, and a clean, pure finish. It is a good all-purpose Barsac to drink as an aperitif, with food, or after dinner with dessert.’ – Robert Parker, Wine Advocate (Apr 1999)

2001:
‘Subdued but pure aromas of mirabelle, peach, pear and pineapple; hints at a roasted botrytis ripeness. Then fat and rich in the mouth, with a captivating flavor of roasted peach. Impressively broad and oily but not yet filled in. Very suave, somewhat youthfully understated Barsac, and not at all overly honeyed today or dominated by its oak component. Built to age for a long time.’ – Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, 93+/100 (Jul 2004)

‘Here is a typical Coutet nose that is just beginning to find its groove: barley sugar and quince scents typifying Barsac, augmented by Seville orange and lime. The palate is viscous and extremely well focused with fine mineralité and tension. It feels quite youthful and linear vis-à-vis its peers and concludes with a tangy, marmalade-lavished finish. This is ageing nicely though at the same time, I would suggest that the Baly family have surpassed this with subsequent vintages.’ – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, 93/100 (Oct 2014)

‘Lots of lemon and maple syrup on the nose, with dried apricots. Full-bodied, with a very sweet and rich palate of candied lemon and orange rinds and a long finish. Beautifully sticky. Not quite as exciting as from barrel but clearly outstanding. Best after 2009.’ – Wine Spectator, 93/100 (Sep 2004)

‘A little smoky and indistinct on the nose – smudgy. Rose-petal scents. Very heavy and sweet. Super rich. Thick and dense. BIG!!!!!!’ – Jancis Robinson MW, JancisRobinson.com, 17.5/20 (Mar 2011)

2005:
‘Surprisingly dry, this has richness rather than sweetness, and intense, powerful botrytis. The honey is intensely perfumed, along with baked apples and spice. Certainly a long-aging wine.’ – Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast, 94/100 (Jun 2008)

‘The 2005 Château Coutet has a slightly muffled bouquet at the moment: honeysuckle, dried quince and a dab of kerosene in the background. The palate is fresh and vibrant on the entry with plenty of botrytized fruit, tensile and linear in the mouth with fine mineralité, though missing the sheer ambition and dimension of the Climens ’05. Nonetheless, one can appreciate the tensile nature of this Barsac that should give 20 to 30 years of pleasure.’ – Neal Martin, Wine Advocate, 92/100 (Jun 2015)

‘Bright golden yellow. Cool, pungent nose offers hints of orange, marzipan, sexy brown spices, parsley, grass and eucalpytus. Sweet, thick and powerful but with its fat fruit flavors cut by strong acidity. At once densely packed and vibrant, finishing with superb lingering sweetness and a mineral element. This needs patience and should evolve slowly.’ – Stephen Tanzer, Vinous, 91+/100 (Jul 2008)

Provenance

Private Client