Coutet 2008

Tasted single blind against its peers. This has a very floral, exuberant bouquet with white peach and grapefruit soaring from the glass. It is very pure and vivacious. The palate is harmonious with what feels like more sucrosity than on previous occasions. It is not viscous in texture, suggesting high acidity to slice through all that sweetness (a typical Coutet trait, as it turns out.) The finish displays touches of ginger and dried orange rind that linger nicely in the mouth, although the general impression is that it needs several years to "calm down."

Fat and oily, rich and full flavoured but quite elegant in the mouth, perhaps lacking a little in acidity to balance the breadth. Soft peachy finish.

The 2008 Chateau Coutet has a very extroverted bouquet, with notes of tangerine, pink grapefruit, guava and pear drop, showing fine definition. The palate is well-balanced, with Coutet's trademark citrus-driven entry segueing into a pure honeyed, mineral-rich finish that is linear, but very composed at this stage. This will need time, but it already displays that trademark race and tension that are the hallmarks of a great Coutet. Drink now-2040.

An expressive nose of clear honey, apricot, a touch of quince jelly and a slight petrolly aroma - complex but very tight at the moment. The palate has good weight, honeyed on the entry, touches of apricot and citrus fruit, although the finish is fading just a little, lacking the clarity one hopes for. Still, this could improve over the next 12 months as the materials are here.