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CHÂTEAU COS D'ESTOURNEL

2016 2ème Cru Classé Saint Estèphe

Grapes Cab Franc, Cab Sauv, Merlot
Colour Red
Origin France, Bordeaux
Sub-district Haut Médoc
Village Saint Estèphe
Classification 2ème Cru Classé
ABV 14%

76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc. Tasted at the château among the dark, opulent Chinoiserie that is so very Cos. The château was at pains to point out that they did not green harvest following the very wet spring and early summer which helped to prevent over-ripeness in the remaining bunches during the long, hot July and August. Hence the boast that the grand vin came in at just 13.07% alcohol. Tightly spiced black fruit nose, rich and spicy long lean palate. Very drawn out, still with some of the slightly exotic style of Cos, but without the ripeness or mid-palate opulence. Even if it is a bit stiff and lacking immediate sex appeal, the tightness and length are impressive. Drinking range: 2030 - 2050 Rating: 92-94 L&S (Apr 2017)


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Exceptional quality, silky tannins, cinammon, turmeric, cloves, grilled liqourice root, crushed rocks, almost seamless, so full of life and character, and brambled fruit. Chcooate, damson, so juicy and characterful, and singing of St Estèphe character, this is the appellation at its best. Decades ahead of it. Shame about the heavy bottle. 100% new oak.Michel Reybier owner, Aymeric de Gironde director (his last year in the role before heading over to Troplong Mondot). Drinking range: 2026 - 2050 Rating: 98 Jane Anson, Decanter (Oct 2022)

In my last sighted review of the 2016 Cos d’Estournel, I wrote: "I suspect it will close down for a period in its youth." Perhaps it is already beginning to shut down, because though this wine was deeply impressive, it fell just a notch short of ethereal previous bottles, despite its "pixelated black fruit" on the nose and "sublime balance" on the palate. I tasted the wine twice thereafter, though this time with a 4-6 hour decant, and this revealed the Cos d'Estournel that has amazed since I first tasted it out of barrel. Drinking range: 2030 - 2070 Rating: 100 Neal Martin, www.vinous.com (Aug 2020)

The grand vin 2016 Cos d'Estournel checks in as 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc that saw 70% new French oak. One of the more seamless, pure, elegant versions of this cuvée out there, it boasts a saturated purple color as well as a monster nose of pure crème de cassis, gravelly, rocky minerality, tobacco leaf, crushed violets, and lead pencil shavings. One of those “iron fists in a velvet glove” wines, with full-bodied richness and beautiful structure that’s covered by thrilling levels of fruit and texture, it stays tight, compact, and incredibly focused on the palate. It’s already brilliant given its purity of fruit and balance, but it deserves a decade of bottle age and will keep for 4-5 decades. Drinking range: 2024 - 2064 Rating: 99 Jeb Dunnuck, www.jebdunnuck.com (Feb 2019)

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