The rich history of Château Coutet
Over 300 years of viticulture
The story ofChâteau CoutetIt began in the 13th century as a medieval fortress, whose crenellated square tower still reminds us of that era today. A fortified house was built in the 14th century, followed by two towers and a chapel in the heart of the estate in the 18th century. Its history as a wine estate began in 1643, at the time under the governance of Charles le Guérin, known as the Lord of Coutet. The château was then one of the first vineyards in Sauternes. Interestingly, its name“Coutet”comes from the Gascon word “knife”, evoking a unique style, both sharp and lively, but also full of freshness and nervousness which is reminiscent of the style of wines produced in the vineyard.
THEChâteau CoutetIt was thus passed down to the descendants of Charles de Guérin until 1788, when it was bought by Gabriel-Barthélémy Romain de Filhot, who in turn passed it on to his heirs until 1926. The château was recognized for its exceptional quality in the 1855 classification, obtaining the title ofPremier Grand Cru of Sauternes and BarsacIn 1926, the Lyon industrialist Henry-Louis Guy became the owner until 1977. He had the famous and unparalleled Guy & Mital hydraulic presses installed, one of the secrets of extraction of the best vintages of the vineyard.
Finally, since 1977, it's theBaly familywho is in charge with Marcel and his two sons, Philippe and Dominique. They will then launch a vast renewal of the estate, starting with the vineyard and the farm buildings. They will also sign an exclusive partnership agreement in 1994 with theBaron Philippe de Rothschild CompanyAfter 40 years of technological improvements, the Baly family can be proud of how far they've come. Indeed, theChâteau Coutetappeared in 2014 in third place in the top 100 world wines established by Wine Spectator magazine.
Château Coutet in the heart of the golden triangle
The exceptional terroir of Sauternes and Barsac
It is common to say that theChâteau Coutetlies at the heart of a golden triangle, which gives it its exceptional and unique terroir. Indeed, it is located in the middle of a triangle composed ofBordeauxAt one corner, the Atlantic Ocean on one side, the Garonne River on the other, and the Landes Forest on the third, all crossed by the Ciron River. Thus, in the center, we find theChâteau CoutetStraddling the Barsac and Sauternes appellations, this estate benefits from an exceptional terroir, composed primarily of clay-limestone soil. The cool soils and water retention slow the ripening of the grapes compared to neighboring châteaux, allowing the morning humidity to encourage the development of noble rot (Botrytis cinerea) within the berries. Later, the transformation of aromas and the concentration of sugars occur with the warmer afternoons. This exceptional microclimate thus allows for the production of wines with inimitable freshness and vibrancy.
Château Coutet's well-deserved Premier Grand Cru title
Unique wines produced vintage after vintage
The vineyard ofChâteau CoutetThe estate comprises 38.5 hectares under cultivation, the majority of which is planted with the Sémillon grape variety (75%). A small portion of Sauvignon Blanc (23%) and Muscadelle (2%) is also grown to create increasingly delicious and skillful blends. The estate is managed insustainable agricultureThe harvest is carried out entirely by hand through several successive passes. This allows for the meticulous selection of the grapes most beautifully affected by noble rot, making it an almost berry-by-berry process. The harvest generally takes place a little later than in neighboring vineyards, mainly due to delayed ripening caused by the ambient humidity surrounding the vineyard. It therefore extends from September to November, lasting an average of 30 to 40 days. Once harvested, the grapes are pressed very slowly, then transferred to vats and finally aged in barrels for 18 months. The blending stage is crucial for producing consistent quality, vintage after vintage.increasingly exceptional vintages.
