B-21 Top Recommendation Read More
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. |