About the Wine

Cos d'Estournel is a second-growth winery in the 1855 Grand Cru Classification. The wines are considered some of the most well-produced in Saint-Estephe. Cos d'Estournel's terroir is impeccable; this property is located at only 1 mile away from the world-renowned Château Lafite Rothschild.

This wine was awarded 2 times a perfect 100-point score and 4 times a 98-point review by some of the best wine critics in the world. It's an impeccably refined wine with an everlasting finish that will tantalize your senses as it dances across your palate. Here's your opportunity to discover what has the critics buzzing!

Born in 1762 during the reign of Louis XV and died in1853 under Napoleon III, at the remarkable age of 91, Louis Gaspard d'Estournel had one sole passion: Cos. Having inherited a few vines near the village of Cos, he recognized, in 1811, the quality of their wine and decided to vinify them separately. Very rapidly, Cos d'Estournel's wine exceeded the prices of the most prestigious wines and was exported as far as India. In 1852, overwhelmed with debts he had accumulated in order to extend and beautify his estate, Louis was obliged to sell Cos to a London banker called Martyns. Château Cos d’Estournel has belonged to Michel Reybier since 2000. Mr. Reybier’s objective has been to uphold the château’s high standards and constant quest for excellence while at the same time continuing the avant-garde style initiated by Louis Gaspard d’Estournel.

In the old Gascon language, the word 'Cos' means 'The Hill of Pebbles'. And as a matter of fact, the hill of Cos, which is situated on the banks of the Gironde, is an impressive accumulation of Quaternary gravel wrested from the distant mountains of the Massif Central and the Pyrenees and laid on Saint-Estèphe's limestone bed when the primeval river receded. Shaped into well-drained slopes by erosion, these exceptionally deep layers of gravel are a true geological curiosity and also one of the world's most precious terroir, for it forces the old vines planted on its heights to thrust their roots into the arid soil.

Tasting Notes:  74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. See Critical Reviews for detailed tasting notes.

Reviews

Dark ruby-garnet, violet reflections, delicate rim lightening. Nuances of cassis and fresh figs, but also red berry aspects, exotic spices, a fine touch of precious wood, an incredibly multifaceted and seductive bouquet. Full-bodied, complex, dark cherries, extract-sweet texture, perfect tannins, round and ripe, dark berries and fine nougat on the finish, lingers for minutes, mineral notes, red cherries in the finish, very promising development potential, has a great career ahead of it. (2020-2060) ~100 Points, Falstaff.

The nose is elegant, and racy and offers a beautiful grain, precision, concentration (full of finesse), a fine power, and deepness. It reveals notes of ripe wild blackberry, pulpy wild cassis, and small notes of violet associated with touches of crushed strawberry, blueberry, small crushed red berries as well as hints of racy minerality, primrose, licorice stick, nutmeg, pepper, and tobacco. The palate is fruity, well-balanced, elegant, full of finesse (like a square of silk), and offers juiciness, an acidulous frame, gourmandize, a beautiful definition, tension, generosity, a small aerial side, a beautiful grain as well as a fine creaminess and richness (full of subtility/control). On the palate, this wine expresses notes of pulpy/fleshy cassis, wild strawberry, and small notes of cherry associated with touches of small wild red berries as well as hints of tonka bean, mild tobacco, and toasted hazelnut. Good length. Tannins are elegant and precise. A beautiful suave and sapid persistence. ~100 Points, VertdeVin.

The 2018 Cos d'Estournel is a blend of 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 2% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, aged in 50% new oak barriques. The alcohol weighs in at just over 14.5%. Sporting a deep purple-black color, it needs a lot of swirling to begin to unlock a powerful nose of crème de cassis, stewed plums, wild blueberries and chocolate-covered cherries, followed by nuances of Sichuan pepper, star anise, tree and clove oil, plus a waft of charcoal. The full-bodied palate is densely packed with taut, muscular black fruits and earthy layers, framed by super firm, ripe, grainy tannins and seamless freshness, finishing very long and wonderfully earthy. A very impressive behemoth, this is going to need a good seven to 10 years to truly show its stuff and should drink for a good 40 years and beyond. ~98+ Points, Robert Parker.

An incredible wine from this estate that's as good as anything in the vintage, the 2018 Château Cos D'Estournel checks in as 74% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot that was brought up in 50% new French oak. While some 2018s are going to offer pleasure right out of the gate, this isn't one of them, but rather it's a backward, tannic powerhouse of a wine that has flawless balance as well as a level of purity that's off the charts.Thrilling crème de cassis fruit, notes of lead pencil, damp earth, cedarwood, violets, and acacia flowers, full-bodied richness, masses of ultra-fine tannins, and a great, great finish all make for a legendary Saint-Estèphe that will need a good decade of bottle age yet evolve for 50 years or more.If you are tempted to try a bottle in its youth, it needs lots of air. ~98+ Points, Jeb Dunnuck. 

The richness and beauty of this wine is impressive with blackcurrant, cherry, berry and fresh cloves. The fruit is so pure here. Full-bodied with tannins that are so integrated and refined that you don’t feel them, yet they are there! Very creamy and layered with great length and beauty. It turns to tar and licorice at the finish. Tight now, but the texture is special. ~98 Points, James Suckling.

The 2018 Cos d'Estournel is a racy, powerful Saint-Estephe that is going to need quite a bit of time to find its center. Today, it is tightly wound, but all the energy is there. Lush and extravagantly ripe, the 2018 possesses tremendous depth and plenty of energy to back it all up. ~98 Points, Vinous Media.

Rich and dense, this wine is happily poised between ripe fruits and a deceptively powerful structure. Smoky flavors from wood aging combine with solid black fruits that strain but never overstep an impressive balance. This wine will age, promising much for the future. Drink from 2026. ~96 Points, Wine Enthusiast. 

This is a bird of a different feather, with a ripe, sleek, and very polished feel as creamed loganberry, plum and boysenberry flavors spill forth, flanked for support by singed alder and incense notes, while black tea and savory threads curl around the finish. Long, showy and lovely. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2024 through 2038. 16,600 cases made. ~96 Points, Wine Spectator.

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