($60):  This wine shows the majesty of white wines from Pessac-Léognan.  You would never suspect it is made entirely from Sauvignon Blanc because the focus is not on fruitiness, but rather on hard to describe flavors of wet earth and minerals.  A subtle, but haunting, bitterness in the finish adds complexity and makes the wine even more appealing.  Far tighter and more youthful than their Acte II, this one, their Grand Vin, needs time.  I’ve enjoyed many bottles of well-aged Couhins-Lurton.  It’s a white wine that develops beautifully with a decade, or more, of bottle age.  This and their Acte II, are, as winemaker Jacques Lurton points out, two entirely different wines for two entirely different settings.  Drink Acte II now and enjoy — it’s very good — and cellar this one.
95 Michael Apstein Aug 9, 2022