On my way to this past fall's StarChefs Congress in New York, I walked from the subway with a chef who'd flown in from Cozumel; he excitedly told me about a great Sauternes presentation he'd seen at StarChefs the day before. Not what I was expecting, but that set the
Over dinner recently, a friend confessed, "I love Sauternes, but I always feel it's a waste when I open one." Why? The simple answer is that he views Sauternes as a dessert wine, and by the time he reaches that point in the meal, he's lost focus. The wine is
Light aromas with Coutet's typical pineapple predominating, then opening in this big, mature wine. Balance overlays sweetness. It holds its own with cake and enhances blue cheese. WHO: Château Coutet WHAT: Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc WHERE: Sauternes-Barsac, Appellation Barsac Controlée-read more-
Light at first, opening to a rich fruitiness, with the fruit peel botrytis underneath plums and honey, in a nice finish, too. WHO: Château Coutet WHAT: Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc WHERE: Sauternes-Barsac, Appellation Barsac Controlée WHEN: 2001 HOW MUCH: $75;-read more-
"Powerful" was the description I was given, and it's true. Tangerine nose, with a bit of apricot, too. Thick, honeyed mouthfeel. More apricot and tangerine peel in the finish. Perfect botrytis occurred this vintage. Great with lobster + butter. WHO:-read more-
Straw-gold color. Honey-strawberry aromas over deeper tangerine peel flavor. Tangerine-peach exhale with a touch of pineapple compote. As it opens in the glass, a nice, lemony tang appears. Not a fruit salad, but a wine you could drink with a-read more-
Opens with light floral underlain by apricot. Fresh, light fruit flavors of apricot, peach, with pineapple and tangerine peel in the long finish. Beautifully balanced. Light-medium body. Still young. WHO: Château Coutet WHAT: Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc WHERE: Sauternes-Barsac, Appellation-read more-