2008 Ch Cos d'Estournel 2ème Cru St Estèphe

Tasting Notes

Goedhuis, May 2009, Score: 91-93

A slightly reticent nose leads to a sculpted palate that has pronounced intensity and concentration. Its impressive finish lingers on ripe red cherry, dark chocolate and mineral notes. It was produced from an atypically high amount of Cabernet Sauvignon (85%) which contributes to its notable precision and finesse.

Robert Parker, April 2009, Score: 94-96+

The inky/purple-hued 2008 Cos is still very young, and probably will improve even further as the wine came out of malolactic fermentation very late. It reveals exceptionally precise, fresh aromas of black fruits, crushed rocks, licorice, flowers, and subtle smoke. Dense and high in tannin, the extraordinary richness of polyphenols has given the wine power, substance, and depth, but the sweetness of the tannin and the seemingly low acidity, even though the wine tastes remarkably fresh and the pH is only 3.57 , has given the wine a precision and elegance that is remarkable. This wine should gain weight, richness, and a few Parker points by the time it is bottled. It is even denser and richer than the 1996, with an index of polyphenols at 80, which is not unusual for many of the top wines of the vintage, but is extremely high, and more along the lines of what one would find in the top wines of 2005. It should evolve for 30-35 years.

Jancis Robinson, April 2009, Score: 18

Extremely deep purplish crimson. It even feels heavy in the hand... Dense terroir expression dominated by Cabernet Sauvignon. Then some spice and much less brutal than some earlier vintages. Extremely vital and lively. Not as concentrated as Latour but (slightly) more energetic than Lafite. Great balance and very fine tannins. Some old hands will object that this is a little ˜lighter' than, say, 2005 - but I think it's very well judged. Not a trace of unripeness of fruit or tannin. And some real personality jumps out. Should have an unusually long drinking window. Very ,very clean. Fine and neat. Livelier than many other vintages. 13.8%

Wine Spectator, April 2009, Score: 91-94

Sweet tobacco, tar, blueberry and coffee aromas. Full-bodied, with velvety tannins and a fresh finish. Bright and fruity, with a lovely finish. A crisp, precise and focused wine, with a lively finish. 85 percent Cabernet, slightly more than usual.

St Estèphe

St Estèphe is the most northern of Médoc communal crus. Its unique terroir is made up of layers of gravel which are supported by a dense clay base. This subsoil retains water in dry seasons and works particularly well with Merlot, a largely planted variety which is used to flesh out Cabernet Sauvignon. This clay base also creates powerful, textured tannins which enable St Estèphe to stand out from the pack. Like St Julien, it is one of the four most important communal appellations of the Médoc which does not contain any first growths, despite its southern border being a stone's throw from Château Lafite. Nonetheless, it is home to some excellent châteaux such as Cos d'Estournel, Montrose, Calon Ségur and Lafon Rochet.

Château Cos d'Estournel

Resembling an ancient Indian palace, Cos d'Estournel is like no other Bordeaux château. Established in the early 19th century by Louis Gaspard d'Estournel, the château was built after the vineyards were established as a celebration to his Far East conquests. Today, it is run by the outspoken and innovative Jean-Guillaume Prats whose family owned the château until 1998. Recently, they have started using satellites and an electromagnetic sensor to analyse all the subtleties marking their terroir. This helps them determine the various components of their soil as well as the water availability across their now divided 97 parcels of vineyard land. As a result, they can achieve more even ripening and better match the varieties to the soil.

Cabernet Sauvignon / Merlot / Cabernet Franc

One of the most widely-found blends used throughout the Bordeaux region - including such legendary wines as Chateaux Haut-Brion, Cos d'Estournel, Ducru Beaucaillou and Leoville-Barton. At it's best this potentially perfect combination balances depth of flavour, ripe richness and taut tannic structure and length. It also produces some of the finest red wines from the Napa Valley in California and Stellenbosch in South Africa.