| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | France > Bordeaux > Left Bank > St Estèphe |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
A beautiful wine with 13.4% natural alcohol, this blend of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc possesses a deep ruby/purple color as well as a sweet perfume of cassis, incense, charcoal, and subtle oak, round, generously endowed flavors, medium to full body, silky tannin, and surprising depth and length. It can be drunk now and over the next 12-15 years. Drink 2010-2025.
The 2007 Cos d'Estournel has plenty of ripe red cherry, cranberry and wild strawberry scents on the nose, hints of marmalade and cooked meat developing in the glass. The palate is medium-bodied with cherry liqueur and licorice on the entry; there is good depth and substance here, although the exotic finish does not chime with the vintage and feels out of place. Personally, I would pick the superb 2008 Cos d'Estournel over this. Tasted February 2017.
Drink Date 2017 - 2029
Shows lovely perfume of dried flowers and berry, with a hint of currant. Full and long, with pretty tannins and a long finish. Balanced and pretty
Determinedly, almost exaggeratedly, modern style. Firm, very concentrated nose. Something strange on the nose very distinctive. Extremely concentrated! And then reasonably supple on the palate but quite low acid and freshness. A certain rawness but great attack and beef. One of the most distinctive wines of the vintage but a bit forced. All created by the early cutting of the shoots in June taking a risk that the summer would not be hot. (Otherwise the fruit risked being sunburnt.) Strictly for modernists. Drink 2010-16
(13.4% alcohol; 85% cabernet sauvignon, 12% merlot and 3% cabernet franc; 80% new oak) Good saturated medium ruby. Black cherry, cassis, minerals and spices lifted by a peppery nuance. Full, rich and ripe, with black fruit and mineral flavors given a firm edge by piquant licorice and herbs. Finishes with good breadth and dusty, fine tannins. (Incidentally, the 2007 Les Pagodes de Cos is unusually sweet and mouthfilling for this second wine, with nicely ripe tannins.)
Both nose and palate are packed with powerful black fruits. The plum gives flesh and the cassis richness whilst underpinning both is bilberry and just a hint of cherry. All feels in balance, ripe rounded tannins, layers of flavour and enough acidity to brighten the fruit on the finish. 2014-20
Dense purple-red, full, plummy, smoky, fleshy, spicy, exotic fruit, with more firmness than usual from the 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, about as ripe as you could get this vintage with fine length and potential complexity. Drink 2012-25. 4 stars.
No tasting note given.
Tasted blind at the 2007 Bordeaux horizontal in Southwold. The Cos d’Estournel 2007 does not quite match the promise out of barrel, but Jean-Guillaume has certainly crafted a commendable wine. It displays good lift on the nose with very pure blackberry and raspberry coulis intermixed with graphite, underlying mineralite coming through with aeration. The palate has a peppery entry, fine tannins and good weight, cohesive with lovely ripe tertiary flavours towards the finish. Very fine. Tasted January 2011.
Coming after the Deuxieme Vin, the nose is far more backward and closed but there is very good fruit intensity here with blackberries, black cherries, violets and again, that tang of orange sorbet that shows the ripeness here. The palate is full-bodied, very good ripeness again with bright black fruits laced with touches of black cherry, orange zest and an engaging citrus freshness towards the finish. This is an unequivocal success for the vintage, certainly one of the best wines. Good grip on the off-dry finish. Superb. Tasted April 2008
