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Goedhuis, April 2006, Score: 93-96+
Resembling an ancient Indian palace, Cos d'Estournel is like no other Bordeaux château. Establishedin the early 19th century by Louis Gaspard d'Estournel, the château was built after the vineyardswere established as a celebration of his Far East conquests.Jean Guillaume Prats, the director of Cos d'Estournel, was on good form the day we tasted – verysatisfied with his 2005 results. And we have to agree. Cos tasted fantastic. Full-bodied yet with ultra silky tannins and unmistakable minerality, this was sumptuous, powerful and elegant. This is classic Bordeaux but with a twist which has no doubt been influenced by a lower than average percentage of Merlot this year (only 17%). Drink 2015 - 2025+.
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Antonio Galloni, October 2015, Score: 97
I have been fortunate to taste the 2005 Cos d'Estournel three times in recent weeks and it has never been anything less than stunningly beautiful, as it is once again on this night. The interplay of dark, ripe fruit and the more mineral, savory-inflected nuances typical of Saint-Estèphe yield a compelling, wonderfully complete Bordeaux that simply has it all. An exotic mélange of graphite, gravel, smoke, cured meats and dark-fleshed fruits flow through to the explosive finish. Riveting today, the 2005 Cos will continue to thrill those fortunate enough to own it for several decades. Given its price vis-à-vis many of the high-flying wines of the year, the 2005 Cos remains a terrific relative value in its class. 2015-2040
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Robert Parker, June 2015, Score: 97
The 2005 Cos d’Estournel is another great success from this property, which is owned by Michel Reybier. A superstar of St.-Estèphe in this vintage, this wine has a dense ruby/purple color, beautiful, sweet cassis and blackcurrant fruit, some floral notes, spice and a touch of oak in a full-bodied, layered, impressive multi-dimensional style. The tannins are surprisingly sweet and well-integrated, as is the acidity, alcohol and wood. This is a beauty and certainly the top wine of St.-Estèphe. Drink it over the next 25+ years.
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Robert Parker, April 2008, Score: 98
While I am not convinced the 2005 Cos d'Estournel will eclipse the compelling 2003 Cos, it isunquestionably another superb classic from proprietor Michel Reybier and his brilliant winemaker, Jean-Guillaume Prats. Made from an unusually high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (78%) and the balance mostly Merlot with a tiny dollop of Cabernet Franc, this superb effort requires plenty of time in the bottle. It boasts an inky/purple color as well as a glorious perfume of licorice, Asian spices, creme de cassis, blackberries, and toasty oak. This full-bodied St.-Estephe is exceptionally powerful, pure, and dense with a layered mid-palate that builds like a skyscraper. While there are massive tannins, they are remarkably velvety and well-integrated in this big, backstrapping effort that should enjoy an unusually long life. Forget it for 8-10 years, and drink it between 2017-2040.
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Robert Parker, April 2007, Score: 94-96
A classic in the making, the 2005 Cos has become even more backward and structured, making it one of the most inaccessible examples of this wine made in the last twenty years. There is an unusually high percentage of Cabernet Sauvignon (78%) blended with 19% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. The wine boasts a dense purple color along with a gorgeous bouquet of creme de cassis intermixed with licorice, pain grille, spice, and cedar. Medium to full-bodied, powerful, rich, and dense, with a sweet middle as well as huge tannins in the finish, it will be approachable in 8-10 years. Anticipated maturity: 2015-2035+.
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Robert Parker, April 2006, Score: 95-97
The 2005 Cos dEstournel is made from an unusual blend of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, and 3% Cabernet Franc. The Merlot was picked during the last nine days of September, and the Cabernets were finished by the 9th of October. The 2005's 13.85% alcohol is the highest this estate has ever achieved. The implementation of such Burgundian winemaking techniques as malolactic in barrel and aging on its lees are resulting in wines of extraordinary texture as well as elegance. The 2003 may be more opulent, and for my taste a more compelling wine, but the 2005 is at the same level. Made from yields of 40 hectoliters per hectare, it exhibits an inky/purple color as well as a gorgeous nose of sweet red and black fruits, camphor, cedar, and pain grille. Extraordinarily well-defined, nuanced, and powerful, with high tannin as well as magnificent texture and richness, this classic offering will be uncommonly long-lived. It will not be close to drinkability for another 5-7 years, and should last for 30 or more. A fabulous wine! Drink: 2011 - 2036.
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Jancis Robinson, April 06, Score: 18
Wonderfully intense, healthy purplish crimson. Restrained nose - rather cool impression despite the record alcohols that rose to 15 per cent for some Merlots. The finished wine is just below 14 per cent. Quite chewy and inky. There is obviously a lot of ripeness buried in here but that's what it is for the moment - buried. A sure bet but it's a monster for the moment. Very dry and Médoc and chewy. They have gone for max this year, and that means you will have to wait for max time for it to be ready. Less of a wine, more of a statement of intent. Jean-Guillaume Prats was perhaps aware that the first sample did not show perfectly so produced a second which was slightly more expressive. Drink 2020-35.
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Wine Spectator, April 2006, Score: 95-100
Wonderful purity on the nose, with currants, berries and minerals. Spicy. Virginal Cabernet Sauvignon. Full-bodied, with very, very racy tannins that develop wonderfully on the palate. Expands on the palate. Cashmerelike texture. Goes on and on. Is it better than the 2003?
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LPB, November 2018, Score: 98
The 2005 Cos d'Estournel is blended of 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc. Deep garnet colored, it is still a little closed and youthfully shy. With coaxing, the nose is just beginning to offer glimpses at vivacious kirsch, red roses, violets, licorice and mocha scents over a crème de cassis, blackberry pie and chocolate-covered cherry core with wafts of chargrill, mossy bark and truffles. Full-bodied, concentrated and wonderfully complex in the mouth, the palate is just beginning to reveal the true potential of this wine, with tightly wound layers of perfumed black fruits and earthy notions bound by a rock-solid frame of firm, grainy tannins and finishing with epic persistence. This still needs 5-6 years, but I love how this beauty is shaping up!! 2018-2045
