Opalie de Coutet Bordeaux blanc 2019 - Second vin

Bettane & Desseauve

About the wine:

Nice notes of acacia, pleasant and well-balanced but less marked by limestone than in previous vintages.

About the domain :

Coutet (pronounced "Coutette", à la gasconne) is condemned to be the eternal rival of Climens, in Barsac, which is not a miserable fate. Its soils are slightly different, and while the lemony notes born of the limestone bedrock can be found, Coutet produces wines that are a little more nervous and mineral than Climens. In recent vintages, the wine has become more unctuous and liqueur-like, in line with its peers. 2014 won't match the château's greatest vintages, but 2015 should dazzle.

Decanter

About the wine:

Wonderful aromas. A zest of honey, butter and vanilla, such a magnificent nose. Beautiful expression, good aromatic intensity. You get this lovely Sauternes aroma - almost sweet but you know it's also fresh. Round with a generous mouthfeel, it's creamy and thick with white fruit, apricot, peach and lime zest. Strong dose of vanilla and toast on the finish. Roasted and toasted notes dominate for the moment, but will settle and soften with time.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the domain :

This premier grand cru classé is one of the two lords of Barsac, along with Climens. In the majority of plots, the famous red soil - a combination of iron oxide and limestone rock - gives the wine an extra nervousness compared to its close neighbors with equivalent sugar content. The citrus and acacia aromas are similar to those of Climens, but Coutet generally expresses itself more quickly and often has a little less liqueur, apart from the famous crème de tête known as cuvée Madame. Alsatian Philippe Baly and his brother Dominique, along with his daughter Aline, have been conscientiously managing the estate since their father bought it in 1977. We've been following this very regular estate for many years.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

Complex, filigree bouquet with notes of mandarin peel and flint. Fruity, saline attack. The wine has breed, refreshing tension and omnipresent aromatic expression. Persistent finish. A wine of character whose evolution will be interesting to follow. 2022-2033

Jean-Marc Quarin

About the wine:

Pale, brilliant color. Intense, fine, subtle and noble nose. Nuances of tangerine and exotic fruit. Meticulous on entry, delicately fleshy in the middle, complex, the wine stretches to a delicate yet powerful finish. Long and very good.

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is fruity and fresh, with a little racy minerality and precision. Notes of ripe/fresh apple, fresh/ripe pear and slightly crunchy peach are combined with hints of juicy/fresh citrus (lemon, tangerine). The palate is fruity, balanced and offers a juicy/acidic structure, lovely definition, greediness, tension as well as fine richness, fine grain and suavity. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of juicy/ripe lemon, granny smith green apple and, more lightly, vine peach, combined with small touches of juicy/fresh quenette, lemon blossom, as well as very discreet hints of passion fruit and a very discreet hint of racy minerality (in the background).