Vinous – The Dalmatian Vintage: Bordeaux 2023

Château Coutet 2023: 94-96/100
The Coutet has a tightly-wound bouquet that demands more caoxing than it peers. It is typically already possesses laser-sharp focus and is less flamboyant fellow Barsacs, underpinned ans sharpened by its limestone soils. The palate is well balanced with intense botrytised fruit, lightly spiced dried honey and orange rind notes, jsut a hint of aprocot in the background, stretching out in the finish that lingers on the tongue.

Opalie de Château Coutet 2023: 91-93/100
The 2023 Opalie offers one of the best aromatics profiles amongst almost two dozen dry Sauterbes tasted this vintage. There’s a complex array of orange pith, wet stone and apple blossom on the nose that is beautifully defined. The palate is well balanced with a tangy entry, possessing judicious touches of orange rind and bitter lemon and a pithier than its peers. Excellent.

Neal Martin