Château Cos Labory 2023

Dark-fruited, with blackberry and herbs; on the palate dense, fine-grained tannins, gripping, spicy, with good length. A crisp Cos Labory that can age.

Smells floral and perfumed. Juicy and supple, this has a nice balance between really lively, bright red fruits and tannins that are fleshy and filling. It’s bouncy and inviting, really easy to enjoy, lots of structure on show, not so serious. Ends a little salty with powdery graphite. Doesn't scream old-school St-Estèphe. A little more open and approachable. Ripe, chewy, almost sweet and sour with the ripe red fruit and cool blue fruit. A nice change of style for this wine. Cos d'Estournel purchased this neighbouring property in March 2023 with north- and west-facing vineyards compared to d'Estournel's south- and east-facing vines. First time the team have used a vertical press and included press wine in the blend at 12%. 4% Petit Verdot completes the blend.

The 2023 Cos Labory, the debut vintage under Michel Reybier's ownership (of neighbor Cos d'Estournel), has a relatively light nose with blackberry and tobacco scents, just missing the complexity of its peers. The palate is medium-bodied with gentle grip, a little pinched toward the finish that feels just a bit conservative and short. So-so. Tasted twice, with consistent notes.

Chocolate, licorice, black cherries, and smoke aromas get you instantly focused on the wine. On the palate, the wine is fresh, vibrant, and chewy, with black raspberries, and chocolate in the lifted, minty-fresh, and chalky finish. The debut vintage produced by the team from Cos d'Estournel. The wine blends 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot. Drink from 2028-2040.

Dark ruby, purple reflections, brightening on the rim. Delicately red berry-accented herbal savoriness, fresh cherries, hints of figs, orange zest. Medium body, red cherries, ripe tannins, freshly structured, a balanced food wine.

55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot. Restrained at first, with delicate blueberry contours, a hint of iris and light graphite. On the compact palate, soft texture, refined saline note, supporting freshness, structure paired with good finesse and medium body. In the focused finish, the St. Estèphe streamlines and ends with finely friable astringency. The first (full) year of Dominique Arangotis (Cos d’Estournel).

Bought by Cos d’Estournel in May 2023, this is an estate to watch, but in this vintage it still leans toward the more austere, old-school Cos Labory style. Expect a firm tannic backbone and dark, brambly fruit, enjoyable with a good decant. Tasted twice.

Score: 91–93. A beautiful floral nose, gently perfumed, sappy and soothing, with black-fruit aromas. On the palate, the wine is fluid, limpid, and dynamic, evoking small sea waves lifted by the wind. The saline finish is long and mouthwatering.

Cos Labory’s bouquet immediately stands out for its inviting character, its many nuances and its finesse-driven definition. The balance has been beautifully adjusted. A fine interplay of floral notes, hints of dark berries and eucalyptus, rounded out by a touch of liquorice. Creamy on the attack, the wine is carried by an airy, elegant framework, supported by structuring acidity and velvety tannins. A wine that seems to come out of nowhere, surprising in its ability to shine so brightly after an overhaul that was, all in all, fundamental!

This is the first vintage entirely under the guidance of the Cos d’Estournel team. The fruit is crisp, and compared to 2022 it has gained in tannins and also in generosity. With aeration it becomes more caressing, unfolding an unusual velvety texture. It retains the energy and the svelte profile that define it.

93-95. Barrel Sample. This is the first vintage after the spring acquisition of the estate by Cos d'Estournel next door. The wine is refined, emphasizing fruit and black-currant flavors. Behind this, there is structure and a fine density.

Ripe, fresh and focused, with a steady beam of violet, ink, cassis and damson plum notes that are nicely melded together and carried by sleek iron and buried chalk accents that focus the finish. A textbook example of the AOC. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Best from 2027 through 2037. 6,000 cases made, 800 cases imported.

It earned “my highest score ever given to this estate En Primeur”. That verdict is confirmed. This vintage is on par with 2022. Deep, intense colour. Highly aromatic nose, fine, fruity, fresh and pure, with a hint of liquorice. Full on the attack, with an elegant texture and plenty of breadth throughout the tasting, the wine finishes deep and very fruity, on a refined, sapid tannic framework. Superb! The best ever, alongside 2022. Bravo!

A blend of 55% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and the balance Petit Verdot, the 2023 Cos Labory is more open and approachable than expected, offering aromas of lead pencil, fresh licorice, spices and baked dark berries. Medium- to full-bodied, dense and concentrated, it is firm and structured, built around abundant tannins that assert themselves on a spicy, somewhat woody finish.