WTN Chateau Coutet 1981 and 1986

[primowino]

For those who don't know it, Chateau Coutet is one of the top producers in Barsac, Sauternes' neighbour making the same style and quality of sweet white wine.

Had the 1981 on Saturday night with a few friends with some good duck liver pate at the start of our meal (I couldn't find Pate Foie Gras at short notice) and with an almond cake with summer fruits for dessert. I had drunk the 1986 vintage a few weeks before for my wedding anniversary - there's an age clue, I've been married 17 years - this was still just about hanging in there with a not too unpleasent caramel finish to it that I put down to oxidation. The 1981 although from a less celebrated vintage was still very youthful. It was light and fruity, mainly orange, with no cloying finish and importantly for a fairly expensive wine (about £30 in the UK), left a very pleasant and lingering taste in the mouth.

I conclude from these two wines that in this case the storage of the wines (I can't vouch for the storage history of either) has been more crucial to their development and longevity than the original vintage quality. An obvious statement maybe, but when buying older wine we should probably be asking for a "full service history".

Edited November 17, 2003 by primowino (log)