Coutet 2006

Tasted at the Sauternes 2006 ten-year on horizontal in Bordeaux. The 2006 Coutet has plenty of quince and marmalade scents on the nose, a subtle nuttiness underneath, perhaps a touch of passion fruit. The palate is medium-bodied with harmonious citrus-fresh peach and quince notes. This is very harmonious and focused, driven by a killer line of acidity, and the finish exudes tension and precision. This is a great Barsac from the Coutet team and it will deliver pleasure for many years yet.

Tasted with a negotiant. Very little on the nose, with faint whiffs of lemon curd, apricot and peach. Quite pretty but needs more vigour. The palate is very focused, well defined with a nice mineral heart. A lively, crisp finish with moderate rather than high levels of botrytis; buttery with a touch of orange-blossom on the after-taste. Very fine. Tasted March 2007.

Very neutral nose - sweet and heavy and perhaps just embryonic. Tingly sweet richness but a bit wild and unreconstructed. Very round texture and pretty impressive concentration. No shortage of sweetness. Acidity not in excess. Powerful and certainly a bit of wild beast. Long and powerful. Arguably one of the longest lived here.

Pale-medium gold. Racy aromas of pineapple, fresh peach, rose water, parsley and marzipan, with enticing floral lift; lovely fresh botrytis character here. Suave and fine-grained; wonderfully light on its feet for such a smooth, even opulent, wine. A subtle, restrained example with nicely integrated acidity and very good finishing grip. Very Barsac in style: approachable young, like almost all of these 2006s, but with the balance to gain with bottle aging.