Château Couhins 2019

[ Primeurs Notes 2019: 91 ] A clean, tightly knit profile with cedar notes, very well made, but a little lacking in artistic flair in terms of mouthfeel.

Mineral and citrus notes; fresh attack, racy development over a pronounced structure, very long mineral, citrus-fruited finish (lime). A great wine that will improve further with age. The best white Couhins so far.

Bramble fruits and blackcurrant leaf on the nose. Mouth-sucking straight away but in a good way, with velvety tannins coating the tongue and cheeks, supporting the plush cherry and blackcurrant fruit. It’s quite powerful but doesn’t feel out of balance. Lovely definition and poise.

Plums, blueberries, blackberries, gravel and spice box on the nose. Medium-bodied with fine tannins. Polished and well structured with an elegant tannin frame and a plush finish. Drink from 2025.

Wet earth, forest leaf, herbs, tobacco wrapper and cherries shine in the perfume. Medium-bodied, elegant, sweet and fresh, this will drink with pleasure early in life, but it has the ability to age and evolve for 15 or more years with ease. Drink from 2023-2036.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, subtle brightening on the rim. A hint of cocoa, soft notes of mint, dark berry fruit, ripe plums, some dried fruit. Medium body, black cherries, integrated tannins, a chocolaty touch on the finish, lingers, has ageing potential.

Youthful and structured, with a backbone of youthful yet ripe tannins, rather Cabernet-scented with cassis, sage and darker fruit notes, good volume and freshness with pure dark fruit and a long, fresh finish.

As for the 2019 red from Château Couhins, it offers lots of spicy red and black currant fruit as well as notes of leather, dried herbs, chocolate, and dried flowers. This rich, medium- to full-bodied, nicely concentrated Graves is going to benefit from just 2–4 years of bottle age and keep for 15–20 years in cold cellars.

Kunz barrel sample 2020: sweet, creamy, light bouquet, cherries, red blackberries, caramel, roasted notes. Light, delicate palate with medium sweet fruit, finely sandy tannins, slender structure, light aromatics, bitter finish.

Sweet, creamy, light bouquet: cherries, red blackberries, caramel, roasted notes. Light, delicate palate with medium, sweet fruit, finely sandy tannins, slender structure, light aromatics, bitter finish. 16/20 2024 - 2035

Compact, with clear austerity to tannins that have not quite settled down over ageing. This is a site with dense, cool clays, and it can remain reticent for the first few years, but you can see the wall of fruit underneath that suggests this hidden power will deliver excellence with a few years in bottle. Precision and flesh to fruits dominated by bilberry and cassis flavours. Stephane Derenoncourt consultant since 2017.

A very pleasant bouquet that reveals, as already seen during the en primeur tastings, chocolaty nuances accompanied by notes of red berries and pepper. On the palate, the wine is slightly creamy, with a structure that brings crunch and vibrancy while supporting the aromatic expression. A balanced, indulgent wine.

Logo on the cork: DIAM10 Dark, intense color. Very aromatic nose, fine, fruity, fresh, even perfumed. Soft on entry and immediately very fruity, with flavor and body; the wine glides through to the finish, where a pleasant oaky note takes over. Good length.

Couhins 2019 offers a complex, intense nose, combining ripe fruit aromas with floral notes and delicate smoky touches, the hallmark of barrel ageing. On the palate, silky tannins reveal a dense, fleshy texture. The perfect balance between fruit, oak and freshness results in a broad, remarkably structured palate.

With a high proportion of Merlot, this estate has produced a ripe, jammy wine. Fully integrated with the black-currant fruits, the tannins are deceptive and their power will propel the wine into some good aging. Drink this wine with a smoky aftertaste from 2026.