Tasting Notes

94
Vinous Neal Martin - 01 Feb 18
The 2008 Cos d’Estournel had one of the most backward, reticent bouquets that I encountered during my tasting. This is so sultry and broody, begrudgingly offering some lovely brambly red fruit mixed with pencil box. The palate is medium-bodied with firm tannin, plenty of black fruit laced with allspice, black pepper and sage, leading to a dense and concentrated finish that should see this age for 20 or 30 years. It does not really serve as a forerunner to the blockbuster 2009 because this is cut from a completely different cloth. (Tasted at BI Wine and Spirit’s annual 10-Year On tasting.)
Drinking Date: 2020 - 2050
Saint-Estèphe Fine Wine

Saint-Estephe

Saint-Estèphe, a prestigious Bordeaux appellation in the northern Médoc, is known for robust, full-bodied red wines primarily from Cabernet Sauvignon, with Merlot and smaller amounts of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. These wines are deeply coloured, with firm tannins and rich flavours of dark fruits, earth, and spice, making them structured and age-worthy. Top producers include Château Cos d'Estournel, Château Montrose, and Château Calon-Ségur. The region's gravelly and clay-rich soils contribute to the wines' distinctive character and complexity.