2005 Cos d'Estournel, St Estèphe

We drank this at our Cos dinner on 20th November 2009, with Jean Guillaume and a host of older vintages. We had 2003 and its the best 2003 I have tried in 3 years and better than at least 2 of the First Growths from that hot year. However as magnificent as his 2003 is the 2005 is on another ,higher, level. Its beautiful. Powerful, structured but seamless. Its very young of course but as the customer I was sitting next to remarked, "Where is the tannin?" . They are so fine and perfectly integrated with the glorious black fruit , whimsical acidity and non obvious alcohol it really is a glorious harmonious triumph. With the First Growths in 2005 at £5000 per case plus, qualitatively this is a steal.
(Simon Staples - Sales & Marketing Director - 21-Nov-2009)

Deep black-red colour almost all the way to rim. Quite intense aroma of ripe fruit, cassis, plums, no sense of oak on the nose. Very harmonious on the palate, lovely texture, great depth. Tannins present but ripe, very long finish. Superb.
(Alun Griffiths MW, BBR Wine Director - Mar 2009)

Cos is 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.
(Simon Staples, BBR Fine Wine Director - Apr-2006)

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)

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)