The 2023 Château Coutet is another decadent, powerful Barsac in the vintage. Honeyed orange, toasted spices, sautéed pineapple, and assorted tropical, floral notes all just about jump from the glass, and it's full-bodied on the palate, with a wealth of fruit, good acidity, and a great finish.

Superb Barsac energy and keen spice, almost Cayenne pepper with pronounced ginger, clove and both dry and fresh fig. Tasted twice with the same beguiling results, this wonderful wine exudes balance that reflects both opulence and verve (165 grams per litre of residual sugar, 3.66pH). The acidity makes this wine vivacious and mouthwatering so try with Thai curry or Szechuan cuisine - or just on its own. A vibrant, late harvest Barsac and a top wine of the vintage.

Beautiful aromatics, fresh acidity that picks things up from the first moment, crisp citrus, mango, pineapple, grated ginger, and a twist of bitter aniseed on the finish. Richly concentrated, reflecting small yields, but once again a wine that shows the huge potential of this style in the 2023 vintage. Harvest between September 20 and October 11.

The 2023 Coutet has a tightly-wound bouquet that demands more coaxing than its peers. It typically already possesses laser-sharp focus and is less flamboyant than fellow Barsacs underpinned and sharpened by its limestone soils. The palate is well balanced with intense botrytised fruit lightly spiced dried honey and orange rind notes just a hint of apricot in the background stretching out on the finish that lingers on the tongue. I am not sure it is the best Coutet in recent years but it is certainly a very fine contribution to the vintage that should age well in bottle.

A Barsac with dried-apple, apricot and spice character. The botrytis comes through with a healthy and clean nature to it. Medium-bodied and medium-sweet with a spicy finish.

The 2023 Coutet is stellar. Soaring aromatics and bright acids drive through a core of lemon confit apricot mint spice passion fruit and pineapple. The interplay of deep layered flavors and energy is so compelling. 2028-2048

95% Sémillon, 4% Sauvignon Blanc and 1% Muscadelle. Cask sample. Pale gold hue. Clean and precise on the nose with zesty mandarin-citrus notes. Sweet attack then good length and persistence. Bitter-botrytised finish. (JL)