2003 Château Coutet, 12-bottle Lot, Wood Case

Château Coutet is a Premier Cru sweet white dessert wine from the Sauternes-Barsac appellation. Its history goes back nearly 400 years to an English fortress which became a wine producing estate in 1643. In the 18th century Château Coutet was owned by the same Marquis who owned Château d’Yquem and several other nearby Sauternes estates, and much of Coutet's architecture is identical to the d’Yquem estate. Coutet changed hands in the 20th century several times and in 1977 the Baly family purchased the property. They are the owners today. The estate includes 95 acres planted to 75% Semillon, 23% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Muscadelle. On average the vines are 35 years old. Some 4,500 cases of the Grand Vin Chateau Coutet are produced annually. Coutet also produces a second dessert wine and a dry white wine.

Sauternes makes the world’s most famous dessert wines. Though the appellation lies within the Graves region of Bordeaux’s left bank, the appellation makes only sweet wines from white grapes, primarily Semillon sometimes blended with small amounts of Muscadelle. The five communes within Sauternes are Barsac, Bommes, Fargues, Preignac and Sauternes. Barsac also has its own appellation and, typically, Barsac wines are slightly drier and lighter than other Sauternes. Sauternes are made when weather conditions result in a mold called Botrytis cinerea developing on the grapes, which causes them to become especially sweet. Sauternes are not produced every vintage, so successful vintages become especially collectible. Sauternes estates were classified in 1855, and Château d’Yquem, the appellation’s most prestigious estate, was ranked in a class by itself as a Premier Grand Cru. Château d’Yquem wines are among the most prized wines in the world.