Château Coutet was recognised as a Classified First Growth in the 1855 classification, but the lands around Barsac, among the coldest in the area, had already been planted with vines for centuries.
First built as a fortress, Château Coutet still bears the stamp of its medieval origins. The square tower with its battlements, located in the centre of the courtyard, is typical of military constructions of the time. The following centuries also left their mark on the architecture: the Salasse (or Salace) – a fortified house – bears witness to the architectural style of the 14th century. The chapel and two other towers show how the estate evolved during the 18th century.
The history of Château Coutet as a winemaking estate starts in 1643, when Charles Le Guérin, known as Lord of Coutet, made it one of the first vineyards in the Sauternes appellation. Today, Aline Baly is the third generation to join the family business. It may be an unlikely story, but it has bound the Baly family to Barsac and rooted it there since 1977. From their experience in other industries and other parts of the world, the members of the Baly family gained a distinctive way of learning about and understanding vines and wines. Together, they worked to renew the vineyard and renovate the buildings, then brought the estate into an era of advanced technical expertise by developing a close relationship with the people from Baron Philippe de Rothschild SA.
