Château Cos d'Estournel Saint-Estèphe 2019 - 2nd Grand Cru Classé

Bettane & Desseauve

About the domain :

The vat room, as spectacular in its kind as the pagodas of the château, equipped with vat elevators allowing gravity-fed operation not only during vinification but also during ageing, was used for the first time in 2008. It crowns the estate's considerable efforts to bring this cru to the highest possible level, with the ambition of rivaling the premier crus classés in quality. The deep gravelly soil generally makes it the fullest-bodied of the Médoc wines, the most voluptuous in texture, yet retaining a finesse and complexity characteristic of its neighborhood with Lafite. Recent vintages have further enhanced its aromatic purity and sincerity of expression. A highly aromatic and intense white Bordeaux is produced on the soils of La Goulée, a little further north, and bears its name.

Decanter

About the wine:

The wine is a bright crimson red; blue fruits, plums and black cherries are presented with pleasant floral aspects, as well as a wonderful aroma of freshly brewed coffee, sweet and delicate but just perceptible. It's absolutely delicious, round and fleshy on the palate but not heavy, well-defined with a precision of fruit marrying blackcurrants and cherries with some cocoa and licorice nuances. The velvety texture and overall clarity stand out, energetic and precise with layers of lovely, mellow, perfumed fruit, supported by generous acidity. Sophisticated and pleasing. Wonderful style from Cos in 2019. 2028 - 2045

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

A brilliant success for the château, which has produced a wine of great balance. Juicy, savory and deep on the palate, with a sparkling finish that sets a benchmark for the château.

About the domain :

Businessman Michel Reybier, who acquired the estate in 2000, has devoted considerable resources to ensuring that Cos d'Estournel has everything it needs to make the finest possible wine. The construction of one of the world's most efficient wineries, by architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte, is a case in point. Cos has always produced expressive wines with a rather exuberant style. In the early 2000s, it even sometimes tipped over into caricature, overshadowing the finesse that the terroir is capable of expressing. Things are turning around, however, and with recent vintages Cos has rediscovered an expression that once again appeals to us.

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

Gone are the days when this illustrious estate produced the most powerful wine possible. This new version is elegant and full of big black fruit. Some dark chocolate flavors add density while retaining the wine's perfume and blackberry flavors. It's an impressive wine, probably ready to drink from 2026.

Vinous A. Galloni

About the wine:

Cos d'Estournel 2019 is a deep, powerful wine. This was true both times I tasted it recently. Readers will have to be patient. Those who can afford it will be rewarded with an imposing, sculptural Saint-Estèphe. With a little air, the fruit begins to emerge, but this is a very reticent Cos that doesn't show the opulence it often does in its youth. Gravel, smoke, incense, tobacco and dried flowers gradually unfold with time, hinting at a very bright future. This 2019 is impressive. That's all there is to it. Tasted 2 times. 2029 - 2069

James Suckling

About the wine:

The wine is so aromatic with blackcurrant, dark berries and raspberries. Pure fruit, combined with coffee and nutmeg. Really fresh and clean with lively spice. Full-bodied, but still reserved and tight with fantastic structure. Very long. A great Cos for the cellar. A benchmark with real character. It needs at least 5 or 6 years to open up and blossom. Try it after 2029.

Terre de Vins

About the wine:

Estate manager Dominique Arangoits confides, "We've been worried all year, with 19 coming on the heels of an excellent 18", but he knew very early on that the terroir and the luck of the weather (the vines needed water three times and it rained three times, sufficiently) would produce a combination of excellence. In fact, this vintage should go down in Cos history with its fine, deep bouquet, where noble scents of leather, black fruit and coffee bean take turns, and where the corseted body unfurls a silky, mineral thread. The whole, very fine, very elegant, is built on a controlled concentration, brought to the point of balance.

Yves Beck

About the wine:

What subtlety and complexity in this bouquet. It is marked by the freshness of red berries and nuances of eucalyptus and cigar box. Nice freshness on the attack. The wine is powerful, compact and endowed with tannins of great finesse that impart their vigor with serenity, without being demonstrative. Such greatness and such ability to defy the decades to come. A great Cos destined to convince and seduce generations! The finish reflects the olfactory characteristics with persistence. 2026-2060

Vert de Vin

About the wine:

The nose is harmonious, nicely balanced, racy and offers very fine grain, richness (but balanced), complexity and lovely fleshy/ripe, finely acidulated fruit. Notes of full-bodied blackcurrant, full-bodied raspberry and, to a lesser extent, full-bodied blackberry are combined with hints of violet plum/ripe blue fruit/pulp, blueberry, violet, racy minerality, as well as hints of incense, spice/exotic spice, cocoa, very discreet vanilla and a subtle hint of iodine. The palate is elegant, fruity, harmonious, delicate, very nicely balanced (between finesse, power and richness), almost very discreetly tight, "complete" and offers an acidic framework, tension, delicacy, lovely guideline, roundness, fatness and a lovely silky, fresh touch. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of fleshy blackberry, fleshy/pulpy blackcurrant and, more slightly, fleshy/pulpy raspberry, combined with hints of wild strawberry, fleshy/juicy violet plum, fleshy cherry/cherry, lily, as well as hints of chocolate, racy minerality/"sense of place", toastiness, nutmeg, ripe almond and a very discreet hint of varietal, Cuban pepper and sweet blond tobacco. The tannins are elegant, fine and well-balanced. Sapidity and smoothness on the finish. Notes of toasted/caramelized hazelnut, ripe almond, chocolate, vanilla and a discreet hint of iodine. A lovely, complete wine offering a perfect balance of richness, finesse, power and breed!

Anthocyanes - Yohan Castaing

About the wine:

Superb nose of flowers, "al dente" black fruit, spices and graphite. Very dense on the palate, massive without being heavy, with lovely tension and a caressing finish. Tense and fresh. Great overall precision. Lots of personality and breed. A future very, very great Cos that asserts itself with a chiselled, delicate and powerful mouthfeel, perfectly balanced and with an assertive verticality. Well done! To be kept for the next 50 years, even if you can already enjoy it.