Product description
Château Cos d’Estournel is an estate you recognize even before you see it: as the road curves, oriental pagodas and elephants come into view—the hallmark of the “Maharani of Saint-Estèphe”.The name “Cos” in the Gascon dialect means “gravel hill,” and indeed: it is a small hill right on the border with Pauillac, next to Lafite, where thick layers of gravel and stones provide excellent drainage and retain heat.The founder, Louis-Gaspard d’Estournel, was already trading wine in India in the 19th century, which explains the exotic architecture and the elephant symbolism that still characterize the brand today.Michel Reybier has been managing the estate since 2000; before the 2009 harvest, he completed a gravity-fed winery—one of the first in Bordeaux—which allows for gentle extraction without pumping.It is here that a wine with the character of a Saint-Estèphe is produced, yet with a touch of opulence and sensuality that have made Cos famous around the world.
The 2009 vintage embodies this duality: on the one hand, abundant sunshine and ripeness; on the other, the rugged minerality of the terroir.The blend is classic, but emphasizes full fruitiness: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc.The wine aged for 18 months in barrels, of which about.80% was new oak—this gave it a silky texture and a spicy edge, but without masking the character of the source material.
In the world of wine critics, 2009 is considered an almost legendary vintage: 100 points from The Wine Advocate (Lisa Perrotti-Brown), 100 points from James Suckling, and 97 points from Wine Spectator.These notes consistently highlight both the boldness and the precision—creamy tannins, the depth of black currant, and exotic spices, as well as a very long aging potential.
Appearance: deep ruby with violet highlights, dense, oily tears on the glass walls.
Aroma: concentrated black currant and blackberry with a liqueur-like note, along with rose petals, graphite, and cedar; in the background, cumin, anise, Sichuan pepper, tea-and-herb accents, and a subtle hint of pencil from the oak.
Taste: full-bodied, creamy, and multi-layered; ripe fruit carried by a salty minerality, dense but exceptionally silky tannins; a very long, spicy finish with hints of currant, coffee, and cocoa.
Food Pairings: a Médoc classic—roast leg of lamb with rosemary, bone-in ribeye, and roasted root vegetables; it also pairs wonderfully with game (deer, pigeon), truffles, and long-aged hard cheeses.