Château Coutet, a Classified First Growth, is a flagship of the Barsac appellation. After a few years in the bottle, it develops spice and tropical and candied fruit notes, in delicate harmony.
Overall, the 2011 vintage was marked by the premature onset of spring that pushed the vineyard activity forward by approximately two weeks. A dry spring forced the vines to reach deeper into the clay and limestone subsoil for nutrients. Summer was cooler with a rainy period in July. A beautiful late season provided ideal conditions for achieving rapid maturity and an early onset and proliferation of the Botrytis cinerea. The first berries of ‘noble rot’ were observed in August. From that point on, the concentration of the fruit occurred at a fast pace.
In its youth, the wine shows great complexity revealing a superb range of concentrated aromas. Floral notes of heather and honeysuckle combine with fresh fruits, such as quince, white peach, mango, pineapple, orange and lime zest, and dried fruits. This vibrant bouquet is completed with the estate’s signature mineral (flint) characteristic. The palate is then wrapped with honey and spicy notes. The wine’s rare elegance is the result of a beautiful balance between rich nectar and vivid acidity. Lively and lush, it already offers remarkable freshness and power. Its racy depth and length make the 2011 vintage a wine of great potential.