Château Coutet

Château Coutet - freshness and finesse from a historic terroir

Location & classification: Château Coutet is located in the commune of Barsac, which is part of the renowned Sauternes appellation in Bordeaux . In the famous Bordeaux classification of 1855, the estate was categorised as "Premier Cru Classé " (First Growth), making it one of the best producers of noble sweet white wines in the world . With a vineyard area of 38 to 44 hectares, it is the largest vineyard in Barsac .

History: The name "Coutet" is derived from the Gascon word for "knife" (French couteau) and is an allusion to the lively, razor-sharp acidity of the wine . Its history as a vineyard began in 1643, when Charles Le Guérin, known as the "Lord of Coutet", planted vines here for the first time . in 1788, Gabriel-Barthélémy Romain de Filhot acquired the estate , which later became the property of the legendary Lur-Saluces family(also owners of Château d'Yquem at the time) through inheritance .Coutet remained under their influence for over a century until it was bought by the industrialist Henry-Louis Guy in 1923 .

Current ownership: The estate has been owned by the Baly family since 1977. Under the management of Philippe and Dominique Baly (who is now assisted by Aline Baly ), the estate has been extensively renovated and its quality further improved . in 1994, the winery entered into an exclusive distribution and technology partnership with Baron Philippe de Rothschild S.A., which continues to this day .

Winemaking & style: The unique microclimate of the "Golden Triangle" (between the Atlantic, Garonne and forests) favours noble rot (Botrytis cinerea), which is essential for the wines of Sauternes . The Sémillon grape variety dominates with a share of around 75%, supplemented by 23% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Muscadelle. The grapes are selectively harvested in several careful hand-picking stages (the so-called tries). The Grand Vin is matured for around 18 months in French barriques .

Coutet wines are known for their exceptional freshness and elegance. This is often attributed to the limestone-rich terroir of Barsac, which provides a lively acidity structure . The famous US President Thomas Jefferson once described Coutet as the "best wine from Barsac".

The wine portfolio:

Grand Vin Château Coutet: The main wine, a noble sweet Barsac with great complexity and ageing potential.
Chartreuse de Coutet: The estate's second wine, also noble sweet, but less concentrated .
Cuvée Madame:A prestigious, extremely rare selection made from the best grapes from exceptional vintages, usually in the tradition of Madame Rolland (daughter of Louis Guy).
Opalie de Château Coutet (formerly Vin Sec): A dry white wine that interprets the minerality of the terroir in a different way.

Sustainability: Château Coutet practises organic cultivation ofits vineyards, avoiding the use of herbicides and pesticides. All work in the vineyards is carried out by hand