Chateau Cos d´Estournel 2023

JAMES SUCKLING: "The finesse is pretty phenomenal here, with such complexity of fruit and vivid, bright flowers. Lavender and rose. Seductive. Ever-so long and precise. Lead pencil and graphite. Reminiscent of old, great Cos, such as 1955 or 1982, but with so much more form and modernity. A renaissance of Cos. 65% cabernet sauvignon, 33% merlot, 1% cabernet franc and 1% petit verdot."

VINUM: "Zurückhaltend, nobel, tiefgründig, kein lauter Wein, besticht mit Druck und Eleganz, ohne dabei zu überborden, sensationelle Tanninqualität, viel Energie, mineralisches Finish. Ein Balletttänzer eines Cos, der wunderbar reifen wird."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "It takes some coaxing to find the red, purple, and white floral bouquet, but it comes with swirling, along with Asian spice, smoke, tobacco, and licorice. But, it is the palate that offers thrills with its silky, fresh, opulent textures. There is a vivid quality to the fruit, coupled with a relaxed character, finishing with black, red, and blue fruits complicated by Indian spices. It reminds me of a modern version of the 1990, with selection. The wine was made from blending 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc. 13% ABV, 3.75 pH. The harvest took place September 12 to September 29. This is the first vintage, since 2008 the estate green harvested. The Grand Vin was produced from 53% of the harvest. The wine is going to be approachable early in its life, yet it has the ability to age for decades. Drink from 2029-2060."

LISA PERROTTI-BROWN: "The 2023 Cos d'Estournel is deep garnet-purple in color. Energetic notes of cassis, wild blueberries, and fresh juicy raspberries pop from the glass, giving way to underlying hints of rose oil, black pepper, and anise. The light to medium-bodied palate is taut with tightly wound, shiny black and red berry layers, framed by firm grainy tannins and bold freshness, finishing long and minerally. The blend is 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, and 1% Petit Verdot, with pH 3.75 and TPI 72."

DECANTER: "Some herbal touches on the nose with dark chocolate, a little exotic with quite dark ripe blackcurrants. Expressive and alive in the glass, weighty and smooth, a great texture and structure to this, more fleshy and ripe than I was expecting with a mineral undercurrent. Lots going on here, less showy as the fruit subsides and leaves some grippy, powdery tannins that linger. Still serious and needs time to come together, a little quiet and intense on the finish. Not so much overt acidity, more power and structure at this point. First time green harvesting since 2008. 12% press wine, less than in 2022. Shorter maceration in 2023, 23 days compared to 28-30 at cooler temperatures. Ageing 50% new oak. In organic conversion. 53% grand vin, 47% second wine. 1% Petit Verdot completes the blend."

JEB DUNNUCK: "The Grand Vin 2023 Château Cos D'Estournel checks in as 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and a splash of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, resting in 50% new French oak. This beauty brings everything up a notch, with awesome crème de cassis, graphite, violets, spicy oak, and chocolate-driven aromatics. Rich, full-bodied, and beautifully textured, it has the fresher yet ripe style of the vintage, beautiful tannins, integrated acidity, and a great finish. It's a beautifully elegant yet powerful wine in the making from this team."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "A contemporary classic in the making, the 2023 Cos d'Estournel has turned out beautifully, reflecting a lighter touch with extraction that has delivered more sensuality and harmony without the loss of any of the estate's signature power and authority. Wafting from the glass with deep aromas of cassis, wild berries, orange zest and exotic spices, framed by well-integrated new wood, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a concentrated core of fruit, beautifully suave tannins and a cool, seamless profile. It's a blend of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot and the balance Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot that attained 12.9% alcohol and is being matured in 50% new oak."

WEINWISSER: "65 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 33 % Merlot, 1 % Cabernet Franc, 1 % Petit Verdot, 12.91 Vol.-%, pH 3.75, 50 % neue Barriques. Dicht verwobenes Bouquet, frischgepflückte schwarze Johannisbeere, zartes Veilchenparfüm und Holundersaft, dahinter Graphit, Orangenzeste und heller Tabak. Am komplexen Gaumen mit seidiger Textur, stützender nerviger Rasse, präzise ausgerichtet, feinkörnige Extraktfülle und durchtrainierter Körper. Im konzentrierten langen Finale mit Schlehengelee, Estragon und zarter Bitterness."

FALSTAFF: "Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, opaker Kern, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung. Feine Gewürznuancen, ein Hauch von Cassis und dunklen Waldbeeren, Anklänge von Nelken und Kardamom. Saftig, gute Komplexität, rote Herzkirschen im Kern, integrierte Tannine, mineralisch, bleibt haften, zeigt einige Frische, etwas Nugat im Nachhall, bereits entwickelt und zugänglich."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Deep purple-black hue. Aromatic and exotic with spice and chocolate notes. Smooth attack then long and persistent. Plenty of freshness. Structured but slightly dry and chewy on the finish at the moment. Clear ageing potential. Drink 2032 – 2050"