CH.COUTET * 2011 750ml BARSAC

The 2011 Château Coutet has a distinctive but attractive bouquet: clear honey, rosewater, peach and just a touch of barley sugar that pins it down to Barsac. The palate is medium-bodied and viscous in texture. There is more harmony here than the nose, nicely understated with quince and barley sugar, dovetailing into an elegant finish. I would prefer just a touch more weight and persistence but otherwise this is a fine Sauternes even if it does not quite meet my expectations from barrel, primarily since it is just missing Coutet's usual razor-sharp acidity that imparts such electricity into its finest vintages. Nevertheless, this will provide much pleasure over the next two or three decades. -WA