2021 Couhins-Lurton Blanc

This is great in bottle as it was En Primeur, captures the grip and sense of mometum that the best whites have in this vintage. Sculpted citrus and lime zest, touch of sage and saffran, measured and juicy on the finish. Look out for this. Valerie Lavigne consultant winemaking, Jacques Lurton owner. Harvest September 9 to 27. The red is impressive in the vintage also, a success in both colours.

The 2021 Couhins-Lurton Blanc offers up aromas of citrus oil, green apple, freshly baked bread and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, taut and incisive, it's bright and chiseled, with terrific cut and energy. Limestone soils and the rather cool vintage mean that this is an unusually tensile white Pessac. It's a terrific effort from Jacques Lurton and his team.

This is an exceptional white, and it definitely lives up to billing in 2021. Chalky, sculpted, lime zest and lemongrass, acidity is measured rather than sharp, with definition and texture. Great quality.