2006 Saint-Estèphe, Cos d'Estournel
About Producer
In Gascon dialect, ‘Cos’ means ´hill of pebbles’ and this estate is named after Louis-Gaspard d’Estournel who inherited the property in 1791. He expanded the vineyards and commissioned in 1811 the design of the stunning oriental edifice, which serves as cellar room, to remind him of the time he had spent as a trader in Africa, India and the Far East. The Cos d’Estournel we know today owes much to Bruno Prats, a qualified oenologist, who became manager of the estate in 1971. In 2000, Cos was sold to Michel Reybier who subsequently launched massive modernisation works, including a state-of-the-art cellar, with the ambition to make the best possible wine.
Varietals
Blend of 78% cabernet sauvignon, 20% merlot and 2% petit verdot.
About Appellation
With 1,229ha of vines, and roughly equidistant from the city of Bordeaux and the Pointe de Grave, the northernmost tip of the Médoc peninsula, Saint-Estèphe is the second largest AOC communal appellation of the Médoc. Though the first vines dated back to Roman times, the expansion of vineyards started in the 14th century with the creation of estates that still exist today. The soil is a mix of gravel, clay and sand, with a slightly higher proportion of clay than elsewhere in the Médoc. Hence Saint-Estèphe has a unique ability to hold water reserves. The best vineyard sites are the gravelly mounds facing the Gironde estuary where cabernet sauvignon is the majority varietal. In recent years, there has been a shift by some estates toward merlot which performs better on clay-rich soils. Saint-Estèphe is home to 5 grands crus classés in the 1855 Bordeaux classification.
Tasting Notes
Enticing nose of dark fruits, smoked meat, tobacco leaf, balsamic notes, graphite, wafting scents of autumn leaves and damp loamy earth, lush mouthfeel with velvety texture, substantial frame and excellent precision, multilayered flavours of cherry, currant, blackberry, umami, truffle, black olive and allspices liberally laced with subtle mineral and earthy undertones, very fine acidity and melted tannins carrying through a long, caressing finish. Among the Left Bank elite, Cos is often the most muscular with the most voluptuous texture, while displaying a mix of finesse and complexity redolent of its neighbour Lafite. Having worn off the tautness of its youth, this has come round superbly at 18 years old with confident drive, beguiling charm and mouthwatering freshness. Though not having the grandeur of greater years, it’s a splendid wine that bears all the hallmarks of Cos’ innate elegance and poise, placing it among the finest bordeaux in the uneven 2006 vintage. (06/2024)