1986 Château Coutet Cuvée Madame
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Tasting notes
The unbelievably decadent, unctuous 1986 Cuvee Madame has the type of extract (but without the overlay of heavy, toasty oak) that one normally finds only in a great vintage of d'Yquem. The wine is much less evolved than the regular cuvee of Coutet. At the moment, it is crammed with honeyed tropical fruit that comes across in a powerful format. This is an enormously rich, almost overwhelmingly intense Barsac that needs another decade to begin to reveal its subtleties and complexities. It is mind-blowing! Anticipated maturity: 1997-2015. Last tasted, 7/93.
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Robert Parker
About the producer
Classified as a First Growth in 1855, this Barsac property has a history stretching back to the 14th century. Today it has 38.5 hectares of vineyard, producing brilliant sweet wines cut by taut acidity. In certain years, it produces Cuvée Madame, pure botrytised Semillon from its oldest vines.