Released this afternoon at £415 per 6 IB, 2014 Ch Cos d’Estournel is a wine that really excited us during the en primeur tastings, and the write ups and scores below speak for themselves.
Its extraordinary position as the first property you come to leaving Pauillac, with Lafite on the left, and entering St Estephe means the quality of its terroir has never been in doubt. However in some recent vintages there has been a feeling that it has been trying a little too hard and lost a bit of its authenticity.
In 2014 it is back up there as one of the stars of the vintage with its super 2nd status fully justified. This wine shows the greatness of the northern Médoc this vintage and has superb aging potential. As Matthew Jukes commented: “This is a swaggering Cos with velvety, terroir-driven fruit and it will drink earlier than expected but still have the persistence to last a long time at its peak. It is amazingly balanced already and hugely impressive. Score: 18.5+.”
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For me, this is unquestionably one of the most exciting wines made at Cos d’Estournel for many years, highlighting the affinity of the northern Médoc to this vintage. With 65% Cabernet Sauvignon in the blend, this wine is a deep colour, with rich flavours of black fruits and spice. Its natural density of fruit is beautifully supported by a fine volume and freshness. Classy and very rewarding. Drink 2022-2035
Score: 93-95. David Roberts MW
The Château Cos d’Estournel 2014 is a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc picked between 25 September and 10 October at 33.7 hectoliters per hectare. The pH came in at 3.77 and an IPT of 87, quite high compared to some other properties in the northern Médoc. It has “cool” nose, by that I mean it is not a flamboyant set of aromatics like the 2009 or 2010, but rather “streamlined” and focused, very delineated with black fruit intermingling with incense and iris. It is very controlled. The palate is medium-bodied with supple, but “full” tannins in the mouth that lend this Cos d’Estournel impressive volume. There is an unerring purity here, a gradual crescendo of intensity towards a peppery finish that lingers long. This is an impressive Grand Vin – classic Cos d’Estournel. Tasted three times with consistent notes. Drink 2022-2045
Score: 93/95 Neal Martin, Wine Advocate (218)
I love the style of this Cos with so much Indian spices constituting the aromas and flavors here. Full body, fine tannins and an ultra-long finish. Excellent structure and length yet this maintains finesse.
Score: 96/97 James Suckling
The 2014 Cos d’Estournel brings together gorgeous textural richness and ripeness, yet retains considerable aromatic freshness. Mocha, red plum, raspberry jam and rose petals are all beautifully nuanced. I very much like the sense of translucent energy here. Sweet floral and spice notes add to the wine’s racy, voluptuous personality. Today, my impression is that the 2014 Cos will reward consumers with a long window of pure drinking pleasure. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc.
Score: 92/95 Antonio Galloni, vinousmedia.com
Dense black fruits nose – exotic, described as ‘bewitching’. Wonderful texture and depth, great richness with fine firmness to back it up. The best ‘modern’ Cos for years. Drink: 2020-2040
Score: 95 Decanter Magazine
This wine is dense in colour and mind-expanding in its depth of fruit and oak on the nose. It seems initially to be a very powerful and dark wine with rich tannins and serious depth – the violet and blackberry notes are stunning and they expand on the palate. The malevolent swarm of dark fruit is, however, tempered by aromatic spice and herbal flashes. By all rights this should be a much darker, bigger and heavier wine on the palate, but it is rewarded with lifted aromatics and it is surprisingly light on its toes. This is a swaggering Cos with velvety, terroir-driven fruit and it will drink earlier than expected but still have the persistence to last a long time at its peak. It is amazingly balanced already and hugely impressive.
Score: 18.5+ Matthew Jukes
Dense colour. Really very luscious indeed. A streak of St-Estephe iron filings but surrounded by the more opulent fruit. Fine and refined. More fun than Lafite! Masses of tannins and density. Shorter than some vintages, such as 2005! 14.2% Drink 2024-2045
Score: 18 Jancis Robinson MW
Score: 97 Tim Atkin MW, timatkin.com