2005 Cos d'Estournel, St. Estèphe

It would be hard to find two wines as different in 2005 as Calon Ségur and Cos d'Estournel. As firm and tannic as Calon was, so Cos was polished and rich, with a fantastic acidity that will enable it to age majestically.  Made with 78% Cabernet Sauvignon, this is a wonderful, dense wine with earthy St Estèphe minerality amidst the incredibly rich fruit. General Manager Jean-Guillaume Prats thinks that 2005 might be as good as their legendary 2003 - but we definitely thought it was better. This fantastic wine is the first serious candidate for wine of the vintage.

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.
(Robert Parker - Wine Advocate - 30-Apr-2008)
Robert Parker

Firm and confident with realms of ripe fruit cloaked in classy toasted oak. A burst of ripe fruit on entry. Exciting.

4/5 Stars - Medoc 2005 - Decanter Award Winner - July 08
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