The second time to do a double vertical tasting of Chateau Coufran and Chateau Verdignan for more than 10 consistent vintages (14 vintages this time) with Frederic Vicaire at the winery. The two chateaux showed completely different characters during the tasting: Coufran is like an expressive and approachable man whereas Verdignan is like a reticent and sophisticated lady--but both of them were extremely stable in quality.

Lots of earthiness and stone filled the faintly herbal scent of Chateau Coufran 2007 whose palate was toasty and plush but clean. Chateau Coufran 2008 was almost a fruit-bomb in taste, but its nose was more serious and less vivid, with a nuance of earthiness and smokiness in the background. Chateau Coufran 2009 showed lovely depth combined with smooth texture and excellent vitality. Chateau Coufran 2010 was somewhat serious and deep, finishing with chewy tannins. Chateau Coufran 2011 was faintly toasty on the smell and palate, but the finish was less plush and more serious. Chateau Coufran 2012 was freshly aromatic, with polished texture and loveable juiciness. The production of Chateau Coufran 2013 was much lower than most of the other vintages, because the estate sorted the grapes strictly so as to the select the best fruits. The resulting wine was zesty, it’s a freshly clean and approachable young effort that scented of loads of lovely strawberry aromas intermixed with smoke, rock, black tea and herb. Chateau Coufran 2014 was an amazing wine that revealed a mass of refreshing aromatics of spices and flowers. The stunning mouthfeel could easily compete with grand cru classe as well, showing notably smooth tannin and freshly vibrant fruit. The bouquet of Chateau Coufran 2015 was a rare integration of seriousness, elegance and refreshment. A tinge of florality began to emerge in the glass after few minutes, but the depths was still there, and formed the background. Chateau Coufran 2016 was very closed. Chateau Coufran 2017 revealed loads of black liquorice and exotic fruits noses. Chateau Coufran 2018 was austere but perfumed on the slightly compact aroma and palate. Smoothly textured, with sharp acid. Chateau Coufran 2019 was faintly reductive but it remained precise, refreshing and elegant. Austerely stony on the taste. Loveable Chateau Coufran 2020 was utterly fresh and precise on the perfumed nose of sushi ginger, red flowers, sweet spices and stone. Polished, juicy and fruited.

Chateau Verdignan 2007 was still youthfully tense. The freshness in Chateau Verdignan 2008 was amazing as a back vintage stuff--probably due to the higher percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend. The taste of Chateau Verdignan 2009 was a bit richer than the other vintages of the lineup, but the finish was still utterly fresh and bright. Fleshy and delicate yet complete Chateau Verdignan 2010 had remarkable performance. The freshness and elegance was astonishing. Plush and toasty on the clean bouquet of Chateau Verdignan 2011 that remained admirable fruit and freshness. Glossy Chateau Verdignan 2012 was suffused with blackberry-like dark fruits aromas. Chateau Verdignan 2013 was more vivid than Chateau Coufran 2013. Textured and suave Chateau Verdignan 2014 exuded a hint of violet-like florality added the elegance to the earthy, rocky and clean perfume. Not surprisingly, Chateau Verdignan 2015 was densely floral on scent. The floral fragrances reappeared on the palate that was utterly tannic but also highly polished. It’s an expressive wine that should age well. Chateau Verdignan 2016 was tense and acidic. Chateau Verdignan 2017 was expressively perfumed and sweetly spicy on both aroma and palate. Chateau Verdignan 2018 was reductive and tight. Chateau Verdignan 2019 was sweetly spicy on the sniff while approachably fruited on the taste. Chateau Verdignan 2020 was more austere than Chateau Coufran 2020. Restrained on the sniff at the beginning but opening up after an hour, with the notes of scrub, dried lavender, raspberry, savoury-mineral and a hint of lychee. Very fresh, elegant and delicate on the palate with a floral end.