Cos d'Estournel is a vineyard and winery in the Saint-Estèphe appellation of the Médoc. In the 1855 Classification, it was classified as a second growth and remains one of the most prominent and sought-after of all Bordeaux wines. Historically, the Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant grand vin has had a high percentage of Merlot compared with other Médoc growths, although this has lessened in recent years. Cos d'Estournel is dark, brooding and tannic when young, developing complexity and intensity with time.
The estate is situated in the very south of Saint-Estèphe, just north of Pauillac's Lafite Rothschild. The south-facing vineyard slopes gently down to the Jalle du Breuil stream which separates it from Lafite. In old Gascon, "cos" means "hill of pebbles", and the vineyard does consist of deep Quaternary gravels and clay on limestone bedrock. It covers 91 hectares (225 acres) and is planted 60 percent to Cabernet Sauvignon and the rest Merlot.
Besides the top wine, Cos d'Estournel has three other red wines in its portfolio. The second wine, Les Pagodes de Cos, was initiated in 1994 and is made from younger vines in vineyard areas designated for the grand vin. Château Marbuzet was historically sourced from younger vines but, since 1994, has been made from the 7 ha (17 acres) of vines surrounding the cellar.
The last wine, Goulée, was first made in 2003 and comes from a vineyard at Port de Goulée in the Northern Médoc. Since 2005, two white wines, Cos d'Estournel Blanc and Goulée Blanc, have also been added to the portfolio.
The new winery, which was built in 2012, has four vats which can be lifted to allow processes to be gravity-fed. The grand vin is matured for 18 months in new oak barrels; Les Pagodes sees 12 months in new oak whilst Marbuzet and Goulée rouge are matured in 50 percent new wood. Annual production of the various wines varies between 200,000 and 380,000 bottles.
Rated 94 Points By Jeb Dunnuck:
//Very, very impressive for the vintage with a dark fruits and impressive spice and mineral undertones. Full body, chewy tannins and a long, long finish. Tight and layered. Needs two or three years to open. //
Rated 92 points by Wine Advocate:
//Blended of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc, the medium to deep garnet-purple colored 2013 Cos d'Estournel opens with notes of sautéed herbs, roast beef, potpourri, eucalyptus and crushed rocks over a core of redcurrant jelly, crushed blackcurrants, kirsch and violets. Medium-bodied, the palate delivers lovely freshness and a good amount of depth, textured by a chewy frame and finishing long and mineral tinged. //
Rated 91 points by Wine Spectator:
//This offers up some lovely fruit, with lilting aromas and flavors of plum, cassis and red currant, while black tea and lilac notes form an alluring backdrop. Very polished, with admirable length for the vintage, this only lacks a touch of stuffing in the end--but that's 2013 for you. //
Rated 89 points by Decanter:
//Jean-Guillaume Prats left Cos d’Estournel in February 2013, with Aymeric de Gironde taking over (he has since left for Château Troplong Mondot). The 2013 vintage flirted with disaster at several points, from flowering through to the harvest, but the winemaking team have worked this cleverly and it's surprisingly enjoyable, with lots of precise brambly fruits and no green pepper notes. It lacks tannins, but oak was used carefully to add some light and shade. They worked hard at keeping oxygen out, aided by the newly-built cellar. There's no need to wait to drink this - enjoy its gently lilting structure while you still can. //
