Chateau Cos D'Estournel 2010
Château Cos d`Estournel is named after its 19th century owner, Louis-Gaspard d'Estournel, who built the bizarre oriental edifice that today is a landmark for any tourist in
the Médoc. Cos d'Estournel is without doubt the leading
estate in St-Estèphe, located on the border with Pauillac and its vineyards are superbly sited on a south-facing gravel ridge with a high clay content, just north of Lafite. Cos d'Estournel is typically a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc although a relatively high Merlot content these are full-bodied, dark, brooding tannic wines when young which develop a complexity and intensity that can rival many top growths from Pauillac. In 1998 the Prats family sold Cos d'Estournel to The Tailan Group. Cos d'Estournel is
classified as a 2ème Cru Classé.
Vineyard
From a 100 hectare estate, the vineyard area extends 70 hectares (170 acres), divided into 30 parcels, primarily composed of the grape varieties of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon and 40% Merlot, with minor cultivation of Cabernet Franc and Petit verdot that appears to participate little in the modern production. The annual production is typically 32,000 cases.
Cos wines tend to have a higher blend of Merlot than other classified Left Bank wines.
97 points Neal Martin, RobertParker.com, Feb 2014
“Tasted blind at the Southwold Bordeaux 2010 tasting. The Cos d'Estournel 2010 has a lovely, well defined bouquet with dense black fruit, cedar, melted tar and mint that unfolds wonderfully in the glass and just oozes class. The palate is medium-bodied with fine but firm tannins supporting layers of ripe black fruit. There is a touch of white pepper sprinkled over the finish that is long and
persistent. This is just an immense Saint Estèphe for long- term aging i.e. after you have finished all your 2009s. Tasted January 2014.”
