2005 Cos d'Estournel (750ml)

Cabernet Sauvignon from Saint-Estephe, Bordeaux, France

B-21 Top Recommendation
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Boasting the stunning longevity typical of first growth Bordeaux, the quality of Cos d'Estournel has skyrocketed under the leadership of entrepreneur Michel Reybier since his purchase of the Chateau in 2000. Producing exceptionally elegant and opulent Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated Bordeaux blends year over year, this special selection from Cos d'Estournel encompasses a range of vintages from the 99pt 2005 to the 98+pt 2018, offering elegant, layered fruit, impressive texture and staggering intensity, some ready to enjoy now and all cellar-worthy for decades to come, now at exceptional pricing.

Situated on the hill just north of Lafite-Rothschild on the Route des Chateaux, the extravagant Taj Mahal-like façade of Cos d'Estournel hints at the spellbinding greatness of the wines produced on the estate, the iconic vista engraved on its labels. Established in southern Saint Estephe on Bordeaux's Left Bank in 1801, Cos d'Estournel was classified as a Second Growth in 1855 but over the last two decades under Reybier has acquired a reputation rivalling nearby first growth estates. With the assistance of technical director Dominique Arangoits, Michel Reybier's upgrades at Cos have included construction of a modern 100% gravity flow cellar to preserve the character of the fruit and the identification of different soil types in the vineyards to improve viticulture, improvements reflected in the wines' consistently excellent ratings over the last 15 vintages. Boasting a higher gravel content than most estates in Saint Estephe ("Cos" translates as "hill of pebbles"), the pebble-strewn vineyards are divided into distinct parcels based on soil type and exposure, with the vines averaging over 40 years of age. Employing extra care to preserve the estate's 100 year old Merlot vines, each parcel is meticulously tended and harvested at optimal ripeness, with the old vine Merlot contributing rich fruit and harmonic balance to the opulent signature style of Cos d'Estournel.

Over 200 years after founder Louis-Gaspard d'Estournel envisioned an estate that would create extraordinary wine, Cos d'Estournel is producing some of the most complex and ageworthy Bordeaux in the region, now under the thoughtful stewardship of Michel Reybier. Described as "one of Bordeaux's greatest properties" by Wine Spectator critic James Molesworth, these Cos d'Estournel Bordeaux blends are precise, focused and long-lived, offering the first growth quality of its nearby neighbors in Pauillac at a fraction of the price.

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A lesson in genuinely great wine, the 2005 Cos d’Estournel is a monster of a wine that delivers an incredible level of opulence and decadence while staying weightless and elegant on the palate, with no sensation of heaviness. This is what truly great wine is all about. Based on 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and the final 4% Cabernet Franc, this dense ruby/plum-hued Saint-Estèphe offers up a monster bouquet of blackcurrants, unsmoked tobacco, licorice, toasted bread, classy oak, and cedar pencil. While it starts out reserved and almost understated, this is a wine that blossoms with air (I drank this bottle over two days, showing best on day two). Full-bodied, powerful, and decadent on the palate, with moderate acidity, it has a wealth of silky tannins, a stacked mid-palate, and a great, great finish. It reminds me of the 2009, if not an improved 1982, or even a slightly fresher 2003. Regardless, it’s a thrilling wine in every sense, and I fear with the focus on acidity and freshness in today's wine world, we might not see this style of great wine for some time.

99 points, Jeb Dunnuck (Jun 2020)

The purity of fruit to this is fascinating with plums, currants and other dark fruits. Then there is another layer of spices and chocolate. So much cassis. Full and very layered with chewy polished tannins and a long, long finish. Just starting to open. Changes all the time. Still needs a year or two but gorgeous to drink already.

99 points, James Suckling (Nov 2015)

The 2005 Cos d'Estournel is blended of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet colored, it is still a little closed and youthfully shy. With coaxing, the nose is just beginning to offer glimpses at vivacious kirsch, red roses, violets, licorice and mocha scents over a crème de cassis, blackberry pie and chocolate-covered cherry core with wafts of chargrill, mossy bark and truffles. Full-bodied, concentrated and wonderfully complex in the mouth, the palate is just beginning to reveal the true potential of this wine, with tightly wound layers of perfumed black fruits and earthy notions bound by a rock-solid frame of firm, grainy tannins and finishing with epic persistence. This still needs 5-6 years, but I love how this beauty is shaping up!!

98 points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Advocate (Nov 2018)

The 2005 Cos d'Estournel is a magical wine. The aromatics alone as mesmerizing. Mocha, dried flowers, herbs and a whole range of deeply-pitched spice notes soar out of the glass. Explosive, deep and so full of character, the Cos dazzles from start to finish. Time in the glass brings out hints of rose petal, cedar and chocolate to round things out. Cos is one of the most exotic wines of 2005 and one of the vintage's undisputed successes. What a wine!

97 points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous (Apr 2021)

Saint-Estèphe has a reputation for tannins, and this 2005 Cos lives up to that. But it does much more, because the tannins add richness along with intensely ripe black fruits, dark plums and figs. The dense tannins are finely balanced with fresh acidity, and a long-lasting aftertaste. Impressive.

97 points, Roger Voss, Wine Enthusiast (Jun 2008)

Alcohol By Volume: 13.5%

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$299.88

Compare At: $329.99

This item is a pre-order estimated to arrive 5/16/2024. 28 bottles available.

This item is available in original wood case. Would you like to include the wood case in your order? There is an additional $12.00 shipping fee for wood cases.

Available in Original Wood Case of 12

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