Château Cos d'Estournel 2006

A racy, fresh style, with the lighter profile of the vintage pulling in red currant and bitter cherry flavors, while the telltale thread of charcoal and bay lingers as well. The tannins are ever so slightly grainy, but the fruit has subtle persistence in the end. -- Non-blind Cos-d'Estournel vertical (December 2015). Drink now through 2026. 15,800 cases made, 1,600 cases imported.

There is still an austerity to this wine, and the firm cassis fruit has a power and push of its own — similar to the 2008 vintage in many ways. The tannins are pulling their weight by deepening the structure and filling out the fruit. They were strict, almost cubic, during the first few years and it is only now that they are starting to come around. This vintage was extremely hot in June, and things got more complicated as harvest approached. Today, the nudging ripeness of the fruit emphasises pepper, mint and eucalyptus — creating a fresh core that might have been tough when young but it’s become a benefit over time. This is a very good and enjoyable wine with plenty to say, with hints of tertiary notes emerging.

This is very meaty and spicy now, with hints of leaves and wet earth. Full-bodied, chewy tannins and a medium finish. Ready to drink, but it still has life ahead of it.

The 2006 Cos d'Estournel, one of three vintages made in the temporary winery, is the finest Saint-Estèphe in this vintage. At 20 years old, it has a fully evolved bouquet of blackberry, undergrowth, curry leaf and light pencil box aromas that are very well defined. The palate is medium-bodied with silky tannins, very harmonious and still surprisingly youthful. Quite intense black fruit laced with white pepper and clove leads to a sustained, balsamic-tinged finish. This Cos d'Estournel punches above its weight and was better than the bottle I tasted at the château in 2018.

Firm, crisp, classic-styled vintage of COS. There is a wealth of concentrated, deep, dark red and black fruits, spice, smoke, espresso, and thyme. All of that is backed up by an equal wall of tannin and freshness. This is going to age for decades. Drink from 2023–2050.

Deep dark wine-red, violet highlights at the core. Brilliant bouquet, notes of rock candy, plenty of licorice, black currant, black olives, hints of redwood and rosewood, noble and finely nuanced. Brilliant on the palate as well, very fine, ripe tannins, terrific, expansive aromatics, darkly underpinned roasted tones, lots of black and blue berries, extremely long, tannins typical of the vintage and of the appellation, yet well-wrapped and greatly contributing to the aging potential. Why is the 2006 Cos so great? Because with medium body and perfect elegance, the wine radiates a maximum of aromatics and power.

07: 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc. 38 hl/ha. 45% of the production was downgraded to Pagodes. Deep dark wine-red, with violet reflections in the center. Brilliant bouquet: candied sugar notes, lots of licorice, blackcurrant, black olives, redwood and rosewood notes—noble and refined. The brilliance continues on the palate: very fine, ripe tannins evenly distributed across the palate, a superb, expansive aromatic profile, dark underpinned roasted tones and plenty of black and blue berries. Why is this wine so great? Because with medium body and perfect elegance it radiates maximum aromatics and power, with extreme length. Of course, it cannot completely hide its vintage-typical or even appellation-typical tannins, but they are damn well wrapped and will significantly contribute to the ageing potential. 09: Drunk at Cos with a group. Clove powder, mocha, leather and smoke, deeply spicy. On the palate fine flesh, well-supporting acidity—the style of this brilliant wine dances between modern and classic. (19/20). 20: Dense, dark wine-red. Almost black in the middle. The nose shows almost only black aromas: smoke, pumpernickel, black pepper, truffle, tobacco, dark leather. On the palate full, concentrated, very meaty and still demandingly astringent. A great, patient Cos whose best time lies ahead. You can start, but only with long decanting. (19/20).

Spicy, deep, dark, velvety bouquet with black blackberries, cassis, tobacco, currants, mint. Dense, dark, powerful, aromatic palate with concentrated dark fruit, fine tannins, a dense, muscular structure, and a long, powerful, tightly knit finish. Can improve further. 18/20 2022 - 2040

A blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot, the 2006 Cos d’Estournel has a medium garnet color with a touch of brick. Slowly, it unfurls with soft-spoken scents of black raspberries, Morello cherries, and dried Provence herbs, plus touches of pencil shavings and fallen leaves. The medium-bodied palate is surprisingly youthful, with pleasantly chewy tannins and racy tension lifting the red berry and herbal flavors, finishing with a real skip in its step. Flirting with the crunchy side of ripeness, it’s aging slowly. Very nicely done!

I tasted it during the winter, and the nose was not yet very well defined. On the palate, the wine is very flattering, purer than ever, with better oak than ever, but I didn’t find much vinous substance inside. Normal length.

Cos d'Estournel has softened those austere Saint-Estèphe tannins and produced a wine that is all opulence and roundness. The tannins are certainly there, but they come through as big, bold richness. The power suggests it will age well, but for drinking earlier, the freshness of the sweet homemade plum jam promises well.

The exceptional 2006 Cos d’Estournel is composed of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and 2% Petit Verdot; 55% of the production was used. Revealing remarkable intensity for a 2006, with an inky/blue/purple color and a sweet bouquet of blue and black fruits, licorice, graphite, and charcoal, this full-bodied 2006 has high levels of sweet tannin. The wine is characterized by freshness and precision that give it a 1996-like affinity. Enjoy this beautifully concentrated, exceptionally pure, statuesque Cos d’Estournel over the next 20–25 years. By the way, it was bottled without any fining or filtration.