Mission Codename Silver wings
“Couhins is a major Sleeper… I loved the 2021.” – Vinous
Do you believe in unicorns? Like exotic white Pessac under $40 with 95+ points?! You want it to fly too? It will!
Had to check the math twice to make sure these were not half bottles or a 6/12 pack error. Feels like a Chance Card in Monopoly. Like an “Advance to GO: Collect $200, or $400 if you pass GO and land on a Chance space in the same turn” or something, doesn’t it?
If you like that Leonie we ran a few weeks ago, this too will rock your boat all day. Just listen to Jeb Dunnuck when he applauds “I continue to sing the praises of the wine from Couhins (especially the white), and I hope readers try these wines.” We did and snagged a small pile of this gem that blew our little minds with its richness and intensity.
Decanter reports that “Cooler years tend to produce great white wines in Bordeaux and 2021 was no exception with plenty of lively acidities, citrus fruit and lean textures on offer.” And Falstaff adds, “More and more classified wineries on the left bank are also producing white wines - in smaller quantities. Among them are some particularly good examples from the 2021 vintage. Of course, these rarities from the Médoc are not exactly bargains, but their individual quality is hard to argue with.”
Well, that “not exactly bargains” bit is proven WRONG today but “hard to argue with” is dead on! Full and flavorful, layered and complex as can be, with a round and rich texture and body. Lots of dried-apple and oozing with white pineapple character. Vibrant and rich. Exotic and ripe. Very long finish, too, can’t even imagine how well this would work as an opener treat at a Thanksgiving feast.
Going, going…
95+ Points – Jeb Dunnuck “I continue to sing the praises of the wine from Couhins (especially the white), and I hope readers try these wines. Based largely on Sauvignon Blanc (there’s 5% Sauvignon Gris), the 2021 Château Couhins Blanc is vibrant and racy, with crisp lime, honeyed mineral, white flower, and minty nuances. Concentrated, medium-bodied, vibrant, and incredibly impressive, it has that rare mix of power and vibrancy in a white that’s hard to find. It shows the vibrant, pure, crisp style of the vintage beautifully, and I suspect it will age effortlessly. This will evolve for over two decades. Drink 2024-2044.”
94 Points – The Wine Cellar Insider “It takes just a bit of swirling to find all of the green apples, orange rind, guava, pineapple, mango and white peaches in the nose and palate. Long, electric, fresh and delicious, this racy gem keeps on going long after the wine has left the glass. This could be the best white wine produced in the history of Couhins. Drink from 2024-2032.”
94 Points – Wine Enthusiast “A taut and nervy wine, its steely edge still young, the wine is crisp. It has a touch of spice from wood aging that fills out the wine, giving a ripe aftertaste. Drink the wine from 2026.”
What the Winery Says
2021 Pessac Léognan Blanc Grand Cru Classé
- Consulting winemaker
- Stéphane Derenoncourt
- Cellar master
- Alix Bern
- Varietals
- 93% Sauvignon Blanc, 7% Sauvignon Gris
- Vintage
- 2021
- Alcohol
- 13.5%
- Appellation
- Pessac-Léognan, Médoc
- Soils
- Gravels over clay and limestone
- Farming
- 100% certified organic (in 2022)
- Aging
- 12 months
- Barrels
- 40% new French oak