A blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc and aged in 60% new oak. 45% of the production made it into the Grand Vin this year. The 2016 is a very pure and elegant Cos, with beautifully fine grained tannins that are hidden by a sea of fresh, bright red and black berry fruits that linger on the palate.
The drive to Cos d’Estournel is one of the prettiest in the Médoc; you are greeted with the famous oriental façade as you come over the hill from Lafite. The 2016 cements Cos’s position in the battleground for top Super-Second in the Médoc.
Ch Cos d’Estournel 2ème Grand Cru Classé St Estèphe 2016
£1400 per 12 bottles IB
£700 per 6 bottles IB
£1410 per 6 magnums IB
Unquestionably the most exciting en primeur Cos I have tasted for many years, this is an absolute beauty. It possesses all the polish that one would expect from this distinguished neighbour of Ch Lafite, classically blended with 76% Cabernet Sauvignon and 23% Merlot (1% Cabernet Franc). It has a deep vibrant purple colour. The initially reserved blackberry aromas evolve in the palate, balancing a silky freshness with a finely polished grainy tannic structure. This has huge class and is a great wine in the making. Drink 2028-2042. Goedhuis & Co, 96-98 points
Energy and raciness on the nose. Gentle and lifted. And then lots of tannins underneath. Fresh almost sandy tannins. Good energy and tea-leaf sensation. Excellent freshness. Long. Restrained. Elegant. Jancis Robinson MW, 18 points
The finish is something else here. This is a wine that’s so powerful and tannic yet at the same time so polished and superb on the finish. Full-bodied, beautifully crafted and precise. This is a wine that really grabs your attention. The agility and power are more than impressive. Wow is the word. James Suckling, 97-98 points
This is one of the best Cos d’Estournels that I can remember trying at this early stage, it really does have every hair standing up on end. Powerful and deep, with a clear intensity but such delicacy; this is fresh, beautiful and succulent. It moves effortlessly through the palate without ever letting you forget that it’s there. Deep black cherries, touches of dark chocolate and graphite are driven forward by a pulse of energy. From a blend of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot and 1% Cabernet Franc aged in 60% new oak. Decanter, 97 points