Château Coutet

Château Coutet – A Premier Cru Classé with centuries of history

Château Coutet, situated in the heart of the Barsac appellation, is one of the oldest and most renowned estates in the Sauternes region. The estate’s origins date back to the 13th century, when it was built as a medieval fortress – the square, crenellated tower still bears witness to this past today. The estate’s history as a wine-growing estate began in 1643, when Charles Le Guérin, known as the Seigneur de Coutet, transformed the estate into one of the first vineyards in the Sauternes appellation. As early as 1787, Thomas Jefferson, then US Ambassador to France and later President, recognised the outstanding quality of the wines and praised them in his writings.

In the famous Bordeaux Classification of 1855, Château Coutet was classified as a Premier Grand Cru Classé – a distinction that remains to this day. Since 1977, the estate has been owned by the Baly family, who are now in their third generation of managing it and have, during this time, undertaken a comprehensive renewal of the vineyards and estate buildings. An exclusive partnership with the Société Baron Philippe de Rothschild, which began in 1994, underlines the estate’s commitment to the highest quality.

The name ‘Coutet’ is derived from the Gascon word for ‘knife’ – a reference to the ‘sharp’, lively and vibrant style that characterises the estate’s wines. The terroir, comprising around 40 hectares of vineyards, benefits from a distinctive geological composition: gravel and red clay over a limestone base. These soils retain water well without overheating, which lends the wines remarkable acidity and freshness. The vines are planted with 75 per cent Sémillon, 23 per cent Sauvignon Blanc and 2 per cent Muscadelle, and have an average age of 35 to 50 years.

Wine-making follows strict tradition: the botrytised grapes are harvested exclusively by hand and sorted in several stages. Fermentation takes place in French oak barrels, and the wine is aged for around 18 months. Château Coutet is the oldest organic estate in Bordeaux – no herbicides, pesticides or artificial fertilisers have ever been used over the centuries, even though official certification was only granted in 2012.

For lovers of great Sauternes, Château Coutet offers the rare opportunity to experience a Premier Cru Classé that bears the hallmark of one of Bordeaux’s most traditional winemaking families, and whose wines can age for decades – in some cases 40 years or more –.