Chateau Coutet

A first growth sweet wine producer from the Sauternes-Barsac appellation in Barsac. It is one of the oldest Sauternes producing vineyards.

The history of this estate begins in 1643 when it was bought up by Charles le Guerin, Lord of Coutet, a counsellor at the Bordeaux parliament. In 1695 he passed his estate onto his nephew, Jean le Pichard, and the holdings remained with his descendents until 1788. At about this time Thomas Jefferson, in France in his capacity as the US envoy, lauded Coutet as the best Sauternes originating from Barsac.

Coutet was later acquird by Gabriel-Barthelemy-Romain de Filhot, president of the Bordeaux parliament and a cousin of the former owner. Sadly the French Revolution and subsequent social unrest meant that the chateau was seized by the state in 1794 and de Filhot was guillotined.

It was later inherited by Marquis Romain Bertrand de Lur Saluces whose family at the time also owner of Chateau d’Yquem, Chateau Filhot and Chateau de Malle and therefore the largest producer of sweet white wines in the world.

The Lur Saluces cared for the vineyards until 1923 when it was sold to Henry-Louis Guy, a hydraulic wine press manufacturer from Lyon. He installed his own presses which are still used today. In 1977 the Baly family purchased the property and remain the present day owners, maintaining the traditions of the past and providing sweet wine of truly exceptional quality.

The terroir is located between the Garonne and Ciron rivers and therefore benefits from a microclimate which gives rise to autumn mists – essential for encouraging the appearance of noble rot.

The vineyard extends across 38 hectares with a presence of 75 percent Semillon, 23 percent Sauvignon blanc and 2 percent Muscadelle. 4,500 cases are produced each year on average of the grand vin.