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Wine Description
The Story
The opal is a precious stone prized for its beauty, reflecting light to shine in multiple colors that renders each one an inimitable and boundless expression of itself. Unique in its vivacity and richness, Opalie de Château Coutet is a first-of-its kind dry white wine from Barsac, produced in limited quantities from the heart of this Premier Grand Cru.
The inaugural 2010 vintage of Opalie de Château Coutet is delighting palates with its exceptional refinement and finesse and defining an exciting new style of dry white wine from Bordeaux.
Viticulture
Opalie de Château Coutet comes from the quintessential parts of the Grand Cru vineyards, comprised of fruits selected from a few rows of 40-year-old vines that are planted in the thickest layers of clay and limestone in the estate's soil, dedicated solely to Opalie production. Along with the local climate, these conditions contribute significantly to the aromatic complexity of the wine. The fruit is harvested manually, using small baskets to collect and protect the matured berries prior to arriving at the cellar.
Vinification
Château Coutet follows a traditional approach to winemaking, which is enhanced by the estate's savoir-faire in selecting the perfect fruits. The distinguished flavor of the wine comes from combining in equal parts the body and depth of Sémillon with the elegance of Sauvignon Blanc. As a result, Opalie de Château Coutet is a memorable, elegant dry white wine with crisp mineral characteristics. True to its classic heritage, this wine is fermented and aged in French oak barrels.
Assemblage :
50% Sémillon
50% Sauvignon blanc
Soil : Clay with a limestone sub-soil
Planting density : 7,500 plants per hectare (3,000 plants per acre)
Vineyard management : “Taille à Cot” (traditional Sauternes pruning) and rational cultivation
Harvest : By hands (successive passes, called tries)
Ageing : 9 months in French oak barrels, 40 to 60% new
