Vinous - Antonio Galloni (89)

The 2020 Bordeaux Blanc from Clarendelle is an attractive, aperitif-style dry white to drink now and over the next few years. Green apple, lemon peel, sage and mint linger on the bright, zesty finish. The blend is 43% Sauvignon Blanc, 30% Sémillon and 27% Muscadelle.

Vinous - Antonio Galloni (89)

The 2021 Clarendelle Blanc is an attractive, crisp dry white to drink now and over the next few years. Lemon peel, white pepper, mint and sage give this racy, Sauvignon Blanc-based blanc a good deal of nuance. Dollops of Sémillon and Muscadelle round out the blend.

Vinous - Neal Martin (98)

The 1989 Climens has an even more complex bouquet than the 1990 and perhaps the best bottle that I have encountered. Yellow plum, saffron, quince and a touch of Manuka honey soars on the nose. The palate is medium-bodied with a tangy, eucalyptus-tinged entry, very harmonious and long. Surfeit with energy, this is a fabulous Climens that deserves a place in your cellar or preferably on your dining table. Tasted at the Climens vertical at the château in April 2022.

Wine Enthusiast (96)

Beautiful aromas of orange zest are followed by gingerbread, caramel and crème brûlée flavors. This is a beautiful, rich, smoothly dense wine with a core of botrytis, spice and vivid fresh citrus acidity.

Vinous - Neal Martin (93)

The 2008 Climens delivers 132g/L residual sugar. It has a much less expressive nose than the 2009: honey, wet wool, slightly petrolly in style. The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity, great depth and intensity, showing more clarity than the nose suggests. I would afford this another two or three years in bottle. Excellent. Tasted at the Climens vertical at the château in April 2022.

Wine Enthusiast (98)

97-99 Barrel sample. A tasting from several barrels, because the chateau has not made the final blend, so the rating is provisional. But the wine is so rich, with an almost perfect balance of acidity and ripeness, allied to a complete purity of honeyed botrytis. However the final wine turns out, it will be magnificent.

Vinous - Neal Martin (97)

The 2015 Climens is notoriously difficult to taste in its youth, the aromatics often shutting down for the first few years and consequently showing poorly in blind tastings. Indeed, this transpires during the blind tasting of 2015 Sauternes so I retrieved another bottle and allowed it 48 hours to open. This is where this note comes from. It has a bashful bouquet compared to its peers with notes of beeswax and honeycomb, just a touch of jasmine developing in the glass. The palate is well balanced with a lightly spiced opening, notes of stem ginger and rhubarb with a vivacious and quite persistent finish that bodes well for the future. It is a great Climens in the making, but it will need a decade in bottle. Tasted blind at the Southwold 2015 Bordeaux tasting.

Experience the revered elegance of the Clos Floridene Blanc 2009. Skilfully curated by vintners Denis and Florence Dubourdieu, this exquisite wine hails from Graves, the birthplace of Bordeaux wines. The Dubourdieu family brings their scientific expertise through rigorous vineyard management and breakthrough winemaking techniques, ensuring the purest expression of terroir.

Enjoy the beautiful blend of Sémillon and Sauvignon Blanc in Clos Floridene Blanc 2009 - two emblematic varietals of the Graves region. Exceptionally hand-picked, these grapes are vinified and aged in French oak barrels, contributing to its stunning complexity. The wine reveals enchanting aromas of citrus and white fruit, evolving into luscious honey and butter notes on the palate, signifying its ageing potential.

A wine not to be missed, Clos Floridene Blanc 2009 expresses elegance, depth, and exuberance that is the epitome of the Graves' landscape.

Vinous - Neal Martin (93)

The 2001 Clos Haut-Peyraguey has a relatively high-toned, showy bouquet, much more floral than its peers, featuring yellow flowers, dandelion, mirabelle and saffron scents. The palate is cohesive with a fine bead of acidity, delivering nectarine, apricot and hints of elderflower. Spice, ginger and lemongrass notes emerge toward the finish, which lingers wonderfully. After a slow start, this turns into quite a compelling Sauternes.

James Suckling (97)

Green papaya, pomelo, cream, flint and hints of wax on the nose. It’s full-bodied with bright acidity and a creamy texture. Concentrated and refined with seamless layers, leading to a long, mineral finish. The phenols with fruit and acidity are a formidable combination. Keeps going. Try from 2022.

James Suckling (98)

Sliced-apple and lime with some aniseed and licorice. Iodine, too. Full-bodied with linear acidity and a fine tannin structure that goes on for minutes. 65% sauvignon blanc and 35% semillon. This is fantastic and so delicious now, but can age for a very long time. Drink or hold.

James Suckling (98-99)

A super white with dense mango, lemon and lime, as well as some clove and nutmeg. Full-bodied, really complete and long. Sensational. So much potential here. 66% sauvignon blanc and 34% semillon.

James Suckling (97-98)

This is layered and serious, with intense yet subtle notes of dried pineapple, lemon, crushed stones and shells. Salty. Long and driven with vivacity and energy. So minerally, in every sense. Grabs hold of you. 71% sauvignon blanc and 29% semillon.

James Suckling (97-98)

This shows real precision and sophistication. Tight and dense palate that is concentrated but not heavy, with intensity and minerality. Sea salt and white pepper at the end. This is really at the top level of dry white Bordeaux now. 70% sauvignon blanc and 30% semillon.

Exuding French elegance, Couhins Blanc 2016 is a compelling redefinition of excellence in viticulture. This White Bordeaux varietal is meticulously crafted in Pessac-Léognan, a lauded subregion of Graves. Couhins Blanc 2016 is from Château Couhins, a producer bestowed with Cru Classé status for its white wine. The exceptional terroir, with gravelly soil interspersed with clay, deftly infuses complex flavour profiles into the wine.

The vintage underwent meticulous vinification, with the savvy use of oak for ageing balancing the vivacious Sauvignon Blanc’s acidity, and eliciting a resinous, toasty charm. This bestows the Couhins Blanc 2016 with a multifaceted character, marrying ripe citrus fruits and acacia flower undertones, robed in creaminess from the judicious malolactic fermentation.

A stellar embodiment of the Château's commitment to traditional viticultural methods, every sip reaffirms the calibre of Couhins Blanc 2016, an absolute delight for the discerning palate. This is not just a wine, but a symphony of craftsmanship in a bottle.

Vinous - Stephen Tanzer (90+)

Highly aromatic but youthfully subdued aromas of peach blossom, fresh pineapple, minerals and spicy oak; offers lovely lift and purity. Smooth, thick and spicy, with lively acidity giving it a light touch. Fruit salad flavors complicated by notes of spice, vanilla and grilled nuts. Finishes suave and long. A very elegantly styled wine with the structure to evolve slowly.

LaRVF (95)

Un raffinement aromatique absolu et une richesse superlative en liqueur font de ce grand millésime à Coutet un modèle presque absolu de barsac dont deux générations de dégustateurs au moins auront à coeur de suivre le lent développement en bouteille. Je peux assurer qu'enfin avec des vins de ce type on retrouvera les émotions un peu perdues après 1959.

Wine Spectator (95)

Offers fascinating aromas of cooked apple, clove and honey that follow through to a full body, with superlively acidity and spicy blanched almond and honey character on the palate. Long and powerful, showing amazing botrytis character, with so much spice and richness, yet also freshness. Even better than the superb 2006. Best after 2015. -JS

Wine Advocate (92)

Tasted single blind against its peers. This has a very floral, exuberant bouquet with white peach and grapefruit soaring from the glass. It is very pure and vivacious. The palate is harmonious with what feels like more sucrosity than on previous occasions. It is not viscous in texture, suggesting high acidity to slice through all that sweetness (a typical Coutet trait, as it turns out.) The finish displays touches of ginger and dried orange rind that linger nicely in the mouth, although the general impression is that it needs several years to “calm down.” Tasted January 2012.

Vinous - Neal Martin (95)

The 2010 Coutet has quite an intense bouquet with linseed oil and wax resin infusing the dried honey aromas, then orange pith and a touch of saffron. The palate is very well balanced with a fine bead of acidity. Harmonious and extremely well focused, this conveys a sense of energy on the finish that makes you want to return for another sip. Excellent. Tasted blind at Farr Vintners 10-Year On Bordeaux horizontal.