Learn everything about Chateau Couhins-Lurton Pessac Leognan with wine tasting notes, wine, and food pairing tips. Learn the best vintages, a history of the property, information on the vineyards, and winemaking. If you want to read about other important,Bordeaux Chateaux: Links to all Bordeaux Wine Producer Profiles
Chateau Couhins Lurton History, Overview
What we know of as Chateau Couhins-Lurton today dates back to the 1700s when it was known as La Gravette Bourdieu. However, the modern era for Chateau Couhins-Lurton begins with the previous owner, the Gasqueton family, better known for owning Chateau Calon Segur in St. Estephe leased the property to the established Lurton family in 1967.
1967 marked the first vintage for the Lurton family at Chateau Couhins-Lurton. At the time, the production of Chateau Couhins was devoted to white wine. In fact, Chateau Couhins-Lurton is one of three Bordeaux estates that was only classified only for its white Bordeaux wine. In 1968, the original Couhins vineyard was divided into two parts.
The Gasqueton family sold the majority of the vineyards to the INRA, Institut National de la Recherche Agronomique. The chateau and wine cellars were sold to another party.
Chateau Couhins Lurton The Modern Age
The Lurton family retained the right to lease a portion of the vineyard, provided they rename the property, Couhins-Lurton. Andre Lurton purchased the vineyards over a period of time, in 1992 and then again in 2002, when the Lurton family was able to fully own the vineyard.
They purchased the original chateau that same year as well. This branch of the Lurton family owns several other Bordeaux Chateau including Chateau Dauzac in Margaux and Chateau La Louviere in Pessac Leognan. It’s interesting to note that the wines of Couhins-Lurton were actually made at La Louviere until 2001 when the estate added its own winery.
In 1994, Chateau Couhins-Lurton began producing red wine at the estate for the first time in almost 100 years. Interestingly, during much of the 19th century, Chateau Couhins-Lurton made mostly red wine. For 8 years, the red wines came from a combination of the estate’s vineyards and those of another Lurton-owned vineyard, Chateau Coucheroy.
That changed in 2002 when the entire red wine production came exclusively from the vineyards of Chateau Couhins-Lurton. 2003 marked an interesting experiment when the estate became the first classified growth to bottle its wine using the Stelvin screw cap enclosure. In 2008, Couhins-Lurton was completely renovated from top to bottom.
The next important and newsworthy move for the Lurton family took place in 2012 when they entered into a business arrangement with the French bank Credit Agricole, which invested in the property.
In 2013, Chateau La Louviere hired Michel Rolland as their consultant in an effort to improve the wines and bring more attention to the estate. Denis Dubourdieu was named the consultant for the white wines and Michel Rolland was retained to consult on the red wines.
Chateau Couhins Lurton Vineyard, Terroir, Grapes, Winemaking
The 19.5-hectare vineyard of Chateau Couhins-Lurton is planted for red and white wine grapes. 14 hectares are reserved for the red wine grapes which are planted to 85% Merlot and 15% Cabernet Sauvignon, which represents a change in the vineyard with more Merlot. The terroir is gravel and sandy soils. At its peak the vineyard reaches 50 meters.
5.5 hectares are used for the production of white Bordeaux wine. The only white wine grape planted here is Sauvignon Blanc.
In fact, the estate is one of the few Pessac Leognan vineyards planted with a single grape varietal. The white wine vines are planted to a vine density of 6,500 vines per hectare. On average, the vines are 25 years of age. The terroir for the white wine grapes is gravel, limestone, and clay. For the red wines, it is clay and gravel.
To produce the white wine of Chateau Couhins Lurton, vinification takes place in 80% barrels and 20% amphora. There is no skin contact or malolactic fermentation. The wine is aged on its lees for an average of 12 months in 25% new, French oak barrels with 25% of the harvest aging in amphora before it is moved to tanks for an additional 4 months of aging on its lees. On average, close to 1,500 to 2,000 cases of white wine are produced at the estate each vintage.
The red wine of Chateau Couhins Lurton is vinified in a combination of stainless tanks and oak vats. The wine is aged in a combination of 50% new, French oak barrels, amphora, and used oak barrels for about 12 months before bottling. Though that can vary, depending on the quality and character of the vintage. Though today, a lot more of the wine is placed into Acte 11 with less wine being placed into the Grand Vin.
There is a second wine for both their red and white wines, Acte II, which made its debut with the 2020 vintage. Close to 6,500 cases of red wine and 1,500 cases of white wine are produced each vintage.
The Best Vintages of Chateau Couhins Lurton are: 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2012, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2006, 2005 and 2000. Although it is important to note that vintages can vary as to their quality between the white wine and the reds as in some years, the reds are markedly better and in other vintages the whites are superior.
Chateau Couhins-Lurton produces a correct, lighter style of Pessac Leognan that drinks well young that will please some tasters much more than others. The white wines are more interesting than the red wines from this estate.
When to Drink Chateau Couhins-Lurton, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time
Chateau Couhins-Lurton can be enjoyed on the young side with decanting. Young vintages can be decanted for an average of 1 hour or so. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.
Chateau Couhins-Lurton is usually better with at least 3-7 years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage character. Chateau Couhins-Lurton offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 7-14 years of age after the vintage.
Serving Chateau Couhins Lurton, with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips
Chateau Couhins Lurton is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. The red wine of Chateau Couhins Lurton is best served with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, and roasted. braised and grilled dishes.
Chateau Couhins Lurton is a perfect match with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta as well as cheese.
The white wine of Chateau Couhins Lurton is a perfect wine to serve with shellfish, sashimi, sushi, all types of seafood, chicken, veal, and a myriad of hard and soft cheese.
Château Couhins-Lurton Wine Tasting Notes
28 Vintages 60,851 Views Sort by Vintage-Rating
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2022
Château Couhins-Lurton (Pessac-Léognan)
With a nose of chocolate, black cherries, figs, flowers ,and black raspberries, the wine is soft, silky, fresh and polished, with layers of sweet, ripe, but not overripe dark red fruits, spice, cocoa, and black cherries from start to finish. This should be delicious to taste on release. The wine is a blend of 95% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Sauvignon. 15.3% ABV, pH 3.45. Drink from 2025-2040. 92-94 Pts. 1,398 Views Tasted May 8, 2023 |
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2021
Château Couhins-Lurton Blanc (Pessac-Léognan)
Pomelo, lemon, lime, green apples and hints of spice are all over the place here. Ripe, fresh, sweet, crisp and creamy, this is already just great to enjoy. Drink from 2023-2032. 93-93 1,076 Views Tasted May 20, 2022 |
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2021
Château Couhins-Lurton (Pessac-Léognan)
Smoke, flowers, tobacco, and black currants pop in the aromatic profile. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, soft, fresh, and bright, with a crisp edge to the spicy red berries in the finish. Drink from 2024-2034. 165 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2024Flowers, tobacco leaf, spearmint, currants and plums are in the nose and on the palate. The wine is fresh, medium-bodied and with a crisp edge to the mildly, cocoa-tinted, energetic, red fruits in the finish. Drink from 2023-2034. 90-92 1,031 Views Tasted May 20, 2022 |
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2020
Château Couhins-Lurton (Pessac-Léognan)
Flowers, black raspberries, currants, cherries and cigar box aromas create the nose. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, elegant, refined and filled with sweet, red fruits that express their essence with ease. Drink from 2024-2045. 503 Views Tasted Mar 21, 2023Cigar box, smoky red fruits and forest leaf create the perfume. On the palate the wine is medium-bodied, soft, refined and fresh with lift and silky tannins in the finish. 91-93 Pts 1,059 Views Tasted May 20, 2021 |
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2020
Château Couhins-Lurton Blanc (Pessac-Léognan)
Zesty yellow citrus, white peach, pineapple and green apples are found from start to finish in this forward, spicy, already-delicious Bordeaux Blanc. Drink from 2023-2032. 672 Views Tasted Mar 21, 2023Zesty yellow citrus, pink grapefruit, flowers and green apple notes crowd your nose as soon as it finds the glass. Crisp, sweet, fresh and vibrant, creamy, yellow citrus with hints of tangelo and a drop of honey on the backend. This should age and evolve well. 92 Pts 1,601 Views Tasted May 20, 2021 |
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2019
Château Couhins-Lurton Blanc (Pessac-Léognan)
Waxy lemons, flowers, pomelo, lime and green apple nuances form the core of this wine. On the palate, the wine is sweet, juicy, and fresh with a finish ending with lemon peel and tart, crisp, green apples. Drink from 2022-2032. 709 Views Tasted Mar 29, 2022Bright pomelo, flowers, vanilla and green apple aromas smell great! Fresh and lively on the palate with a crisp, sweet, juicy yellow citrus finish is what you will find here. 90-92 Pts 2,739 Views Tasted Jun 8, 2020 |
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2019
Château Couhins-Lurton (Pessac-Léognan)
Spice, forest leaf, wet earth, and red berries are what you initially notice. On the palate, the wine is medium-bodied, bright, fresh, and energetic, with chewy tannins and a high-pitched, energetic, spicy, red berry finish. Drink from 2023-2034. 532 Views Tasted Mar 29, 2022Medium-bodied, soft, refined, sweet red cherries, with a hint of smoke, already show well. Light, but pure, this will be fine with just a bit of aging to add complexity. 89-91 Pts 1,701 Views Tasted Jun 8, 2020 |
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2018
Château Couhins-Lurton (Pessac-Léognan)
With a nice depth of color, the elegant wine delivers ample, soft, sweet, ripe, smoky, refined red fruits on the nose and palate. 633 Views Tasted Mar 9, 2021More than just the cherry pipe tobacco nose, you'll also find supple polished, ripe red fruits, soft tannins and a spicy, red fruit-filled finish. 90-92 Pts 1,119 Views Tasted Apr 19, 2019 |
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2018
Château Couhins-Lurton Blanc (Pessac-Léognan)
The just squeezed yellow citrus pops with lift, allowing the sweetness to shine through in this forward, medium-bodied, early-drinking wine. 1,425 Views Tasted Apr 19, 2019 |
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2017
Château Couhins-Lurton Blanc (Pessac-Léognan)
Fresh and floral, with a sweet, lemon peel character, the wine is a great example of an easy drinking, white Bordeaux blanc with character. 1,531 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2018 |
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2017
Château Couhins-Lurton (Pessac-Léognan)
You'll find an earthy, elegant, fresh, bright, sweet and tart, smoky wine, which is medium bodied with a sharp cherry note in the finish. 1,327 Views Tasted Apr 26, 2018 |
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2016
Château Couhins-Lurton Blanc (Pessac-Léognan)
Crisp lemon, flowers, green apple and grapefruit come together to create a lively, fresh, crisp splash in your glass. 2,384 Views Tasted Sep 21, 2019 |
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2016
Château Couhins-Lurton (Pessac-Léognan)
Medium bodied, with, smoky, red fruits and spice in a user friendly style. 1,990 Views Tasted Apr 29, 2017 |
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2015
Château Couhins-Lurton Blanc (Pessac-Léognan)
Fresh grapefruit, white peach and lemon notes appear with little trouble. The wine is juicy, sweet, fresh and vibrant. 2,291 Views Tasted May 21, 2018Fresh grapefruit, lemon peel and green apple, combining sweetness, crisp refreshing acidity and a stony, yellow citrus filled finish. 1,490 Views Tasted Apr 23, 2016 |
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2015
Château Couhins-Lurton (Pessac-Léognan)
Medium bodied, forward, easy drinking wine, with a red fruit, herb and leafy character. The wine is elegant, classic and fresh. 1,759 Views Tasted May 21, 2018 |
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2014
Château Couhins-Lurton Blanc (Pessac-Léognan)
Crisp, fresh, yellow citrus with more pomelo than not, freshness and a stony, lemon and grapefruit finish are what you find here. Very food friendly wine. 1,772 Views Tasted May 21, 2017 |
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2014
Château Couhins-Lurton (Pessac-Léognan)
Medium bodied, forward, easy drinking light style of Bordeaux with red berries, smoke and soft, tannins. This is already drinking well. 1,765 Views Tasted Jun 23, 2017 |
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2013
Château Couhins-Lurton Blanc (Pessac-Léognan)
Fresh grapefruit, lemon peel and green apple help to combine sweetness, crisp refreshing acidity and a stony, yellow citrus filled finish. 1,436 Views Tasted May 25, 2016Medium bodied, with a grapefruit and lemon peel character, drink this fresh citrusy wine on the young side. 88-90 Pts 1,694 Views Tasted Apr 21, 2014 |
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2012
Château Couhins-Lurton (Pessac-Léognan)
Medium bodied, light in style, with a fresh, bright, red berry character, with spice and softness in the finish. 1,588 Views Tasted Jul 6, 2015 |
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2012
Château Couhins-Lurton Blanc (Pessac-Léognan)
Fully mature, easy-drinking yellow and orange citrus oriented wine that is slowly fading. 1,920 Views Tasted Aug 24, 2020 |
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2011
Château Couhins-Lurton Blanc (Pessac-Léognan)
Medium bodied, fresh, bright, crisp, lively, lemon peel, wax, grapefruit, cara cara orange, stone and freshly cut grass aromatics are the first thing you notice. This is a very, bright, fresh and refreshing style of wine with a strong grapefruit component. It's one of the few Pessac Loegnan white wines made from 100% Sauvignon Blanc. 2,181 Views Tasted Sep 25, 2016 |
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2010
Château Couhins-Lurton Blanc (Pessac-Léognan)
Fully mature, taking on more gold tone to its hue, the wine is medium-bodied, with luscious yellow citrus, green apple, a dab of honey, flowers and stone. Drink this over the next few years. 2,120 Views Tasted Apr 30, 2020 |
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2009
Château Couhins-Lurton Blanc (Pessac-Léognan)
Fresh citrus, crushed rock and green apple scents are just great on the nose. On the palate, the wine waxy lemon with just a hint of honey hits the spot. Fully mature, this is ready for drinking. 1,858 Views Tasted Sep 20, 2019Medium bodied, with pomello, tangerine and lime notes in a fresh, easy to drink style. 1,952 Views Tasted Oct 29, 2014 |
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2008
Château Couhins-Lurton (Pessac-Léognan)
Fully developed, you find tobacco, espresso and red fruits on the nose. Medium bodied, fresh and bright, there is a leafy, minty edge to red cherries and plums in the finish. 1,256 Views Tasted Sep 17, 2018 |
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2008
Château Couhins-Lurton Blanc (Pessac-Léognan)
Really nice nose, with loads of waxy, yellow citrus and green apple. The wine has retained its freshness, leaving you with a waxed lemon impression in the finish. 1,031 Views Tasted Sep 17, 2018 |
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2007
Château Couhins-Lurton Blanc (Pessac-Léognan)
Light in fruit and body, the bright, citrus powered wine is starting to fade and requires consumption sooner than later. 2,323 Views Tasted Dec 11, 2017 |
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2005
Château Couhins-Lurton (Pessac-Léognan)
Ready to go, medium bodied, elegant, finesse styled, Pessac Leognan, with a tobacco, cherry and earthy character, soft textures and a good feeling of freshness in the earthy, light, spicy, red berry finish. This is in a nice style, and if it had a bit more density, it would be even better. 2,507 Views Tasted Oct 20, 2016 |
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1998
Château Couhins-Lurton Blanc (Pessac-Léognan)
Clearly starting to fade, as the fruits seem diminished and the acidities are more prominent. Still, if one looks, the remaining vanilla, apricot, orange marmalade and honeysuckle that is still there, is quite nice. This requires drinking sooner than later 3,283 Views Tasted Nov 28, 2016 |
