Chateau Couhins-Lurton

Chateau Couhins-Lurton has the same early history as Chateau Couhins, and the two were one and the same until 1968, when it was split up. Initially renowned for its red wine, the whites were first produced in 1898, and gradually increased under the reins of the Hanappier and Gasqueton family, which was bottled under Chateau Cantebau before 1950.

The white wine was classified as a grand cru classe in 1959, this estate is now owned by Andre Lurton, the leading owner in Pessac-Leognan with other properties including La Louviere, Rochemorin, Barbe-Blanche and others. In fact it was Andre who rescued the vineyards or it would have disappeared when Madame Gasqueton considered to uproot the vines.

Andre agreed to lease the vineyard but the Gasqueton family finally decided to sell to INRA, which continued to honor the rental agreement with Lurton through 1978. In 1972 INRA sold 1.5 ha of vines to Lurton, dividing the estate and creating Chateau Couhins-Lurton.

In 1992 Lurton bought the chateau as well as the cellars, and then renovated in 1998. Now the whites, which is made purely with Sauvignon Blanc, comprises 6 ha of gravel and sand-gravel soils on a limestone bedrock. The grapes are hand-picked and then ferment, aged for 10 months in oak barriques, 50% are new.

Recently half of the bottles are produced in screwcap and the rest in traditional cork. It has a good capacity to age and is a good value buy.

 

I have recently tasted the 2005 vintage and below is my tasting note:

 

Very good quality Pessac-Leognan white wine of medium lemon color, it has an intense nose of good complexity, showing developing aromas of lemon and grapefruit, fig, cream and butter, wax, grass and honey. Fairly high on acidity, this wine is quite full-bodied with a good concentration on the palate, showing grapefruit, gooseberry, straw, butter, smoke. Its robust varietal characters is supported by a good structure and freshness, and with its fairly long finish, it is a wine I recommend, particularly in view of its price. Ready to drink now and can be maintained for another 3-5 years.