The 2022 Château Coutet is more deep gold-hued and has a ripe, powerful style in its brioche, toasted bread, honeyed orange, and marmalade-like aromas and flavors. It's a rich, unctuous, full-bodied effort that has serious density and depth.

Low yields but well expressed juiciness here, along with luscious texture of apricot, citrus, pineapple, sage, mint leaf, liqourice, really impressive complexity and depth of flavour, kick of slate minerality on finish. An upscore from En Primeur - more proof that Barsac is the place to look in this vintage. Harvest September 26 to October 28

The 2022 Coutet has a clean and precise bouquet with scents of white peach, apricot blossom, quince and saffron. It unfolds wonderfully in the glass but maintains a sense of control. The palate is very well balanced, with ample weight counterbalanced by a keen thread of acidity. There is a naturalness to this Coutet that I really appreciate. This is very fine.

Orange, lemon, lime, honey, caramel with an almost candy floss scent. Smooth and so satisfying on the palate, a lovely buttery element alongside signature bitterness. Complex and compelling, really thick and glossy but enjoyable.

One of the wines of the vintage, the 2022 Coutet opens with notes of apricots, spices and exotic fruits, setting the stage for a medium to full-bodied, round and supple palate enhanced by brightness and tension that culminates in a spicy, minty finish. Its balanced structure and lively acidity contribute to an ethereal ending, making it a very elegant yet chiseled Barsac. This blend of 94% Sémillon, 5% Sauvignon Blanc and 1% Muscadelle is matured for 18 months in barrels.

Luscious and sweet, sticky dates and crème caramel flavours, balanced by orange zest and lime. There is interest and contrast here, but even at this exceptional Barsac estate, owned by the Baly family, it is hard not to crave a little more lift.

95% Sémillon, 4% Sauvignon Blanc and 1% Muscadelle. Smells spicy and golden with barley-sugar sweetness (British hard candy). Very sweet and still balanced. Long, golden spicy finish. Viscously generous. (JH)