Château Coutet — Attraction in Libourne

Chateau Coutet was our second stop in Saint-Emilion, and it did not disappoint. Our guide, Agnes (please forgive me if I’ve misspelled her name), was warm and knowledgeable, with a genuine passion for wine that was immediately apparent. Her global experience in the wine industry has given her a unique perspective on winemaking, which she eagerly shared with us during the tour.

As Agnes explained, Chateau Coutet is deeply committed to organic and natural winemaking. The estate strives for ecological balance in every aspect of its production. For example, they plant trees to protect against insects and birds, and they allow their fields to remain wild with minimal soil disturbance, only turning the soil when absolutely necessary.

One interesting fact about Chateau Coutet is that they own the oldest bottle of wine in Bordeaux. Discovered buried on the property, it features a glass cork that is hermetically sealed, and although it may still be drinkable, the winery has vowed never to open it. However, they have recreated the bottle with a glass cap, and visitors can purchase this replica at the winery.

Now, I know some of you might be skeptical about “natural” or “organic” wines, worrying they might be prone to spoilage or other issues. While the risk of spoilage can increase with more natural methods, I’m happy to say that Chateau Coutet manages these risks exceptionally well. Their wines were fantastic—fruit-forward with a subtle touch of oak. Our favorite was the Les Demoiselles, which is made entirely without electricity.

If you're in Saint-Emilion, Chateau Coutet is a must-visit. It's a wonderful introduction to a family-run winery that treats its terroir with deep respect and reverence. This boutique winery is definitely...

Tour guide Agnus was very informative and if you are a wine nerd - like the gentlemen from Australia who “drove two hours to be here” - then I think you will like this tour. You won’t necessarily learn anything new about the wine making process but the way Agnus describes the process is done well.

My knock on this place is that I read multiple blogs and articles about this place holding itself out as a house that caters to families traveling with children. I can definitely say that is not the case. There was nothing unique or additional that was done to accommodate small children, apart from Agnus handing my kids a couple books in French while the adults participated in the tasting.

In contrast, we have visited houses in Burgundy (e.g. Pommard) where they will literally take the kids while the adults go on a tour and give them grape juices and coloring books. Or in La Rioja where every single place at least gives the kids grape juice and at least seems willing to have kids there. Those are just a couple examples of how places who hold themselves out as family friendly should operate.

All that said, I would advise not visiting Chateau Coutet if traveling with kids. However, if you have a “couple of vines in the outback” then by all means you might learn a thing or two about the...

Visiting Chateau Coutet is visiting one of the only Bio produces of Grands Crus of Saint Emilion. Perched on an elevated area it has beautiful views over the surrounding chateaus, and they are extremely respectful of the nature and environment.

The visit itself was super informative; after visits in La Rioja, Burgundy and South America this was one of the most interesting and thorough ones we have had. Thanks for your honesty and simplicity, Juliette! For only 4 euros we had more than an hour of information and enjoyed a taste from a couple of their bottles.

The reason they don't have 5 stars is that we returned a second time and, despite buying 6 bottles of wine, nobody thought we should at least be informed that the wooden boxes were extra...not too sales driven, the man at charge that day,...