2007 Château Coutet

Château Coutet is one of my favorite Sauternes of all. When the estate decides the vintage is good enough to warrant making their ultra-luscious, super-concentrated Cuvée Madame (named after a previous housekeeper), it is my favorite Barsac of all, duking it out with d’Yquem for numero 1 in Bordeaux sweet winedom. Coutet (the name of which derives from the Gascon word meaning knife) has been owned by the Baly family since 1977, but sweet wine was being made on the premises as far back in 1643. Château Coutet is located in the southern part of the appellation and at 35 hectares large (planted to 75% Sémillon, 23% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Muscadelle on mainly clay-limestone with some gravel), it is one of Barsac’s largest properties.