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Now Viewing: Chateau Coutet
Chateau Coutet is one of the Premier Cru properties of Sauternes, as determined in the 1855 classification of Sauternes and Barsac. Coutet dates back to the 13th Century, hundreds of years before anyone even dreamt of planting vines on the then marshy, now prosperous, Médoc. Some parts of the chateau date from that period, although it has been extensively augmented, with a 14th Century chapel, two 16th Century towers and a remodelling in the 18th Century. Although those early buildings remain, little is known about the ownership of Coutet during that period. In 1643 the estate was purchased by local politician Charles de Guérin, from whom it passed to Jean de Pichard in 1695, and then onto Gabriel-Barthélémy-Romain de Filhot of Chateau Filhot in 1788. I hope he made the most of his time at Coutet, because by 1794 he found himself at the wrong end of the guillotine. Despite these events the Filhot family kept Coutet and passed into the Lur-Saluces family of Yquem by marriage. It saw several new owners during the following centuries, but in 1977 the current owners, the Baly family, took control. Marcel Baly has since passed the estate on to his sons, Dominique and Philippe. There are 38 ha planted up at Chateau Coutet, 75% Semillon and 23% Sauvignon Blanc, the remainder Muscadelle, with an ongoing program of replanting. Yields are typically 18 hl/ha, with the number of tries reaching double figures in some vintages! Only 50% finds its way into the grand vin, the remainder forming a second wine or being sold off. Young vines - less than seven years old - in particular are excluded. Fermentation is en barrique but is temperature controlled. The resulting wines include the grand vin Chateau Coutet, a super-selection Cuvée Madame >released in vintages of exceptional quality, the second wine Chartreuse de Coutet and a dry Graves Vin Sec de Chateau Coutet. Interestingly there was once also a dry red, but this has now been discontinued.
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