Château Cos d'Estournel 2021

Expressive, profound, herbal, exotic spices, black cherry, cassis, floral notes. On the palate, elegant and fresh, with firm, grippy tannins; it builds intensity, shows bite, yet remains light on its feet; a very long red-fruited finish. A delicate Cos with effortless drinkability and a not-to-be-underestimated ageing potential.

Alluring from the get-go, with boysenberry and creamed plum flavors that offer an almost exotic edge, backed by liberal accents of rooibos tea, mulling spices and sweet tobacco. Caressing in the end, this also shows a chalky spine that's better integrated than most in this vintage, plus a pretty, lingering curl of alder. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Franc. Best from 2025 through 2037. 14,500 cases made.

This stands out for its structure, subtle power, balance and finesse. Perfumed and softly sweet on the nose, ripe and concentrated, glorious and inviting. Creamy and chalky at the same time, with lovely texture and density, and bright, concentrated strawberry and red cherry fruit. Crisp, sweet, salty and sour, a lovely combination of flavours and textures with great drive and an undercurrent of minerality and a salty wet stone finish – real St-Estèphe signature.

Floral aromas with violets, lavender and currants. Lead pencil, too. Medium-bodied, with fine tannins that caress and please. Elegant and sophisticated. A linear line of tannins running through this. Needs two or three years to soften. Hold for now.

The 2021 Cos d'Estournel has retained a Cabernet Sauvignon-driven nose, with pencil shaving scents infusing the black fruit, and a touch of dark chocolate and loam coming through with aeration. It is well-defined and composed, though it doesn't have the complexity of some of the great recent vintages from the estate. The palate is medium-bodied with slightly chalky tannins on the entry. Showing modest depth, it’s quite sapid, with a touch of brininess to the fruit. This is not a flamboyant Cos d'Estournel, but it is very well composed and lingers temptingly on the finish. Give this five to seven years in bottle.

Dried flowers, smoke, licorice, Indian spices, black cherries, plums, chocolate, and a hint of blue fruit emerge effortlessly in the nose. On the palate, the wine shines. Here, you find layers of supple, creamy, ripe black and red fruits, polished textures, creamy, soft tannins, and a finish that builds and lingers with waves of fruit and a subtle smoked herb note that arrives at the very end. The wine was made from a blend of 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc. Drink from 2026–2055.

Dark ruby garnet colour with purple reflections, delicate ochre rim. Plums, blackberry confit, some nougat, candied orange zest, a hint of herbs. Taut, savoury, cool style, somewhat demanding tannins, good freshness, some bitter chocolate on the finish, still underdeveloped and somewhat firm on the finish.

The Grand Vin 2021 Château Cos D'Estournel checks in as 64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, and 2% Petit Verdot that was brought up in 55% new French oak. It's a more restrained, elegant Cos that brings beautiful red and black currant fruit as well as classic damp earth, graphite, scorched earth, and hints of tobacco leaf. This medium-bodied, elegant, seamless 2021 has ripe, polished tannins, remarkable purity, and outstanding length. At just 12.74% alcohol, pH of 3.79, and an IPT of 77, it’s up with the top handful of wines in the vintage. I’d happily drink a bottle today, but it will ideally be given 3-4 years in the cellar and should evolve for 20 or so years in cold cellars.

Kunz barrel sample 2022: (64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 12.74% vol. alcohol) Velvety, dense, complex, finely creamy, deep, dark bouquet, plum, mocha, fine woods, currants, mint, dark chocolate. Powerful, tightly knit, elegant, fresh palate with dense, dark fruit, plenty of fine tannin, creamy, multi-layered structure, robust, sweet, dark aromatics, very long, full, finely opulent finish with many lingering flavors. Can improve further.

(64% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 4% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 12.74% vol. alcohol) Velvety, dense, complex, finely creamy, deep, dark bouquet: plums, mocha, fine woods, currants, mint, dark chocolate. Powerful, tightly woven, elegant, fresh palate with concentrated dark fruit, plenty of fine tannins, a creamy, multi-layered structure, rich, sweet, dark aromatics, and a very long, full, finely opulent finish with plenty of lingering flavors. Can improve further. 18/20 2030 - 2055

Lovely stuff, elegant and sculpted, great quality, showcasing the successful side of a cool vintage. There is some austerity, as you would expect, with chewy tannins holding blueberry and black cherry fruits, well balanced with grilled cinnamon and sandalwood smoke. 55% new oak. Among the wines of the vintage.

The nose is a little shy at first but drifts toward voluptuous, chocolatey notes. On the palate, the wine is easy to drink, delectable, majestic without being showy. Its flavors are so complex and indulgent that you could almost eat it.

Cos 2021 reveals itself in a whisper, showing with restraint yet in many facets. It hits two birds with one stone by announcing both subtlety and depth. The oak serves as an aromatic carrier. Even though it is dominant, it doesn’t block elements such as graphite, black berries, and iris. On the palate, the wine combines creaminess and power. The tannins are velvety yet dense, while the acidic structure works behind the scenes. A Cos that unfolds slowly, like its tannins that emerge mid-palate and pull the whole flavour profile along, creating a convincing symbiosis with the acidity. It needs time to blossom, but what it shows today is already highly convincing!

Dark, deep color. Intense, refined nose, very fruity and powerful. Broad on the attack, juicy mid-palate and remarkably full for the vintage, the wine develops with power and depth on velvety tannins, with long-lasting flavor persistence. Blend: 64% cabernet sauvignon, 30% merlot, 4% cabernet franc, 2% petit verdot. Alcohol: 12.74% - pH: 3.79. IPT: 77. Yield: 35 hl/ha. Harvest from September 23 to October 7.

Cos d’Estournel has improved slightly compared to the en primeur tastings. Deep, viscous color, extremely concentrated. Generous, sweet-toned and liqueur-like chocolate notes; the nose is very rich with graphite and licorice. Super-juicy and concentrated on the palate, extremely powerful and firm. A very mighty Cos with great breadth and structure. Quite open and balanced, yet it needs time. The most forceful of the 3 top wines from St.-Estèphe. 13.0% vol.

96–98. Barrel Sample. For the vintage, this is a big wine. Big in all the senses, giving juicy black fruits and powerful tannins. The fruit also exudes great concentration. It will take many years to develop fully.