2011 - Cos d'Estournel, Saint-Estephe

Composed of 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot and 5% Cabernet Franc, the deep garnet-purple colored 2011 Cos d'Estournel gives up compelling notes of roasted nuts, black cherry compote, blueberry pie and red and black currants with touches of yeast extract and smoked meats. Medium to full-bodied, very firm, grainy textured and with a great core of youthful black fruits, the palate reveals loads of savory layers on the very long finish. This is very youthful and slowly maturing—a very impressive showing for this vintage!

The 2011 Cos d'Estournel shows quite a bit of extraction on the nose with brambly red fruit, blackcurrant, iris flower and cedar, gaining cohesion with time in the glass. The palate is ripe and chewy, good depth but broad-shouldered, again, maybe a little heavy on the extraction, whilst the finish feels a little monotone. Difficult to see where this will go. Frankly, I would drink this sooner rather than later. Tasted blind at the annual 10-Year-On tasting.

Tasted blind. Dark crimson. Gives an impression of hidden depths on the nose. Good balance of dimensions but not yet fully developed. Long and relatively powerful. Muscular. (JR)