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2003 Château Cos d'Estournel St. Estèphe Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note

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2003
Château Cos d'Estournel  (St. Estèphe)
96
Another stellar showing for this beauty. Roses, cigar box, black cherries, and spice open the perfume. The palate, is lush, opulent, fresh, and long, with layers of flamboyant, perfectly ripe, dark, red fruits. Popped and poured, this is simply pleasure in your glass. Drink from 2023-2035.

Another stellar showing for this beauty. Roses, cigar box, black cherries, and spice open the perfume. The palate, is lush, opulent, fresh, and long, with layers of flamboyant, perfectly ripe, dark, red fruits. Popped and poured, this is simply pleasure in your glass. Drink from 2023-2035.

4,434 Views   Tasted
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The baby fat continues sliding away while the ripe, cassis, spice, earth and tobacco leaf nuances become more evident. Full-bodied, concentrated, deep and rich, this is sublime to drink today, and it should remain at this level for at least another 10-15 years.

The baby fat continues sliding away while the ripe, cassis, spice, earth and tobacco leaf nuances become more evident. Full-bodied, concentrated, deep and rich, this is sublime to drink today, and it should remain at this level for at least another 10-15 years.

5,712 Views   Tasted
Not quite as opulent and showy as previous bottles, still there was more than enough to get excited about here. The wine is packed with lusciously textured, ripe, sweet, black and dark red fruits, smoke, Asian spice, wet earth, licorice and cigar box aromas. Full-bodied, rich and palate filling, this is a true start of the torridly hot vintage.

Not quite as opulent and showy as previous bottles, still there was more than enough to get excited about here. The wine is packed with lusciously textured, ripe, sweet, black and dark red fruits, smoke, Asian spice, wet earth, licorice and cigar box aromas. Full-bodied, rich and palate filling, this is a true start of the torridly hot vintage.

6,431 Views   Tasted
Clearly one of the wines of the vintage, this beauty delivers the good from start to finish. Full-bodied, rich, lush and powerful, there is opulence to the fruit that helps this stand out in the crowd. The fruit is ripe, rich, round, sweet and pure. There is no sensation of heat or overripeness, instead, you find a wine with persistence, balance and concentration that is ready to drink. Well stored bottles should remain at this level for at least another 12-15 years with ease.

Clearly one of the wines of the vintage, this beauty delivers the good from start to finish. Full-bodied, rich, lush and powerful, there is opulence to the fruit that helps this stand out in the crowd. The fruit is ripe, rich, round, sweet and pure. There is no sensation of heat or overripeness, instead, you find a wine with persistence, balance and concentration that is ready to drink. Well stored bottles should remain at this level for at least another 12-15 years with ease.

7,163 Views   Tasted
Just a beauty. With about 1 hour in the decanter, the aromatic profile, with its Asian spice, smoke, thyme, blackberry and earthy essence popped. The wine is full-bodied, rich, opulent and sensuous. While this is drinking great today, the wine improved in the glass, so it is going to get better with more time.

Just a beauty. With about 1 hour in the decanter, the aromatic profile, with its Asian spice, smoke, thyme, blackberry and earthy essence popped. The wine is full-bodied, rich, opulent and sensuous. While this is drinking great today, the wine improved in the glass, so it is going to get better with more time.

7,059 Views   Tasted
This consistently shows great every time I taste it, and last night was no exception. The wine is rich, opulent, sensuous and silky. The wine is concentrated, full bodied and lushly textured. The ripe tannins and soft, but there is structure to age and develop. The fruit is ripe, sweet, fleshy and flashy. There is no touch of heat, or jam, just perfectly ripe Cabernet Sauvignon that once it gets going, it doesn't quit. The sexy finish is a knockout! The bottle showed this well with no decanting. Although, I would decant this show stopper for 30 minutes or so, if we had an extra decanter.

This consistently shows great every time I taste it, and last night was no exception. The wine is rich, opulent, sensuous and silky. The wine is concentrated, full bodied and lushly textured. The ripe tannins and soft, but there is structure to age and develop. The fruit is ripe, sweet, fleshy and flashy. There is no touch of heat, or jam, just perfectly ripe Cabernet Sauvignon that once it gets going, it doesn't quit. The sexy finish is a knockout! The bottle showed this well with no decanting. Although, I would decant this show stopper for 30 minutes or so, if we had an extra decanter.

6,977 Views   Tasted
This is really a super wine. The tannins are more than soft enough to make this fun to drink now. It's halfway between the primary and secondary stage, the fruit is opulent, sweet and exotic. Pop a cork and you'll be happy, or age it another 5 years to enhance its development.

This is really a super wine. The tannins are more than soft enough to make this fun to drink now. It's halfway between the primary and secondary stage, the fruit is opulent, sweet and exotic. Pop a cork and you'll be happy, or age it another 5 years to enhance its development.

8,163 Views   Tasted
One of the younger tasting, top wines from the Medoc in 2003, the showy nose offered black and blue fruits, tobacco, earth, chocolate, hints of jam, spice and espresso bean. Full bodied, concentrated, lush, round and opulent, the tannins are smooth, the rich texture is velvety and the mouth filling finish is layered with ripe, juicy fruits. The wine was splash decanted and served right away. An hour or so would have added more to the experience. Still young, you can drink it now, or age it for another 3-5 years.

One of the younger tasting, top wines from the Medoc in 2003, the showy nose offered black and blue fruits, tobacco, earth, chocolate, hints of jam, spice and espresso bean. Full bodied, concentrated, lush, round and opulent, the tannins are smooth, the rich texture is velvety and the mouth filling finish is layered with ripe, juicy fruits. The wine was splash decanted and served right away. An hour or so would have added more to the experience. Still young, you can drink it now, or age it for another 3-5 years.

8,874 Views   Tasted
Supple, rich and lush, this easy to drink, concentrated beauty has it all, with its elegant, silky textures, showy perfume and long finish.

Supple, rich and lush, this easy to drink, concentrated beauty has it all, with its elegant, silky textures, showy perfume and long finish.

10,440 Views   Tasted
Explosive notes of truffle, cedar chest, minerality, smoke, mint, tobacco leaf, coffee, licorice, plum and black cherry. The wine offers massive concentration with perfect balance, harmony and charm. With textures of silk and velvet, your palate is coated with sweet, ripe black and red fruits that remain for close to 60 seconds. If you enjoy great wines that are starting to open, pop a bottle now. If you want to wait, it’s only going to get better and better!

Explosive notes of truffle, cedar chest, minerality, smoke, mint, tobacco leaf, coffee, licorice, plum and black cherry. The wine offers massive concentration with perfect balance, harmony and charm. With textures of silk and velvet, your palate is coated with sweet, ripe black and red fruits that remain for close to 60 seconds. If you enjoy great wines that are starting to open, pop a bottle now. If you want to wait, it’s only going to get better and better!

10,142 Views   Tasted
Powerful and intense, with ripe dark berries, oak, cassis, leaf and tobacco, the wine is long, fresh, rich and mouth filling. I’d give this a few more years for the tannins to soften and allow more of the lush, rich exotic quality to shine through

Powerful and intense, with ripe dark berries, oak, cassis, leaf and tobacco, the wine is long, fresh, rich and mouth filling. I’d give this a few more years for the tannins to soften and allow more of the lush, rich exotic quality to shine through

10,572 Views   Tasted
Asian spice, smoke, licorice, cassis, blackberry, forest floor, plum and spice box pop from the glass with minimal effort. Lush, dense, concentrated and mouthfilling, the wine builds with layers of ripe, fruit. There is power, as well as refinement. Still young, if you have a case, pop a bottle. If you want to wait, this sublime effort can only get better. This bottle was popped and poured. Some time in the glass or decanter would have added to the experience.

Asian spice, smoke, licorice, cassis, blackberry, forest floor, plum and spice box pop from the glass with minimal effort. Lush, dense, concentrated and mouthfilling, the wine builds with layers of ripe, fruit. There is power, as well as refinement. Still young, if you have a case, pop a bottle. If you want to wait, this sublime effort can only get better. This bottle was popped and poured. Some time in the glass or decanter would have added to the experience.

12,400 Views   Tasted
Still deep ruby in color, tobacco, cigar box, Cuban cigar, roasted blackberries, truffle, gravel, spice and smoky aromatics are easy to find. Rich, lush, silky, luxurious and loaded with deep, sensuous textures of perfectly, ripe black fruit, the wine builds on your palate for close to 60 seconds! Hold it for another 5 years and drink it over the next several decades.

Still deep ruby in color, tobacco, cigar box, Cuban cigar, roasted blackberries, truffle, gravel, spice and smoky aromatics are easy to find. Rich, lush, silky, luxurious and loaded with deep, sensuous textures of perfectly, ripe black fruit, the wine builds on your palate for close to 60 seconds! Hold it for another 5 years and drink it over the next several decades.

14,860 Views   Tasted
Blending 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, intense aromas packed with Asian spice, truffle, cassis, incense, earth and fresh blackberries lead you to a rich, plush, concentrated wine that ends with a big wave of perfectly ripe, spicy, dark berries and minerality. The long, clean, pure finish has no hard edges. This is not close to mature, but if you have a case, it's a good time to taste a bottle. It's starting to deliver a lot of pleasure.

Blending 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc, intense aromas packed with Asian spice, truffle, cassis, incense, earth and fresh blackberries lead you to a rich, plush, concentrated wine that ends with a big wave of perfectly ripe, spicy, dark berries and minerality. The long, clean, pure finish has no hard edges. This is not close to mature, but if you have a case, it's a good time to taste a bottle. It's starting to deliver a lot of pleasure.

15,099 Views   Tasted
Deep ruby in color, the complex perfume is packed with Asian spice, minerality, crème de cassis, forest floor, smoke and tobacco scents in the aromatics. In the mouth, this powerful wine is refined and silky. It’s pure, intense and concentrated with spicy, blackberry and sweet dark fruits. Your palate is washed over with incredible layers of fresh fruit. The long finish is filled with roasted, spicy black and red fruits. There is not a hard edge or hair out of place in the seamless finish. This is showing well and will only get better over the next several decades. This is a serious wine that is worth looking at in today’s marketplace. As prices for 2010 Bordeaux are much more money and this is a better wine, if you have the funds, this is the wine to buy. When fully mature, I imagine my score could look stingy!

Deep ruby in color, the complex perfume is packed with Asian spice, minerality, crème de cassis, forest floor, smoke and tobacco scents in the aromatics. In the mouth, this powerful wine is refined and silky. It’s pure, intense and concentrated with spicy, blackberry and sweet dark fruits. Your palate is washed over with incredible layers of fresh fruit. The long finish is filled with roasted, spicy black and red fruits. There is not a hard edge or hair out of place in the seamless finish. This is showing well and will only get better over the next several decades. This is a serious wine that is worth looking at in today’s marketplace. As prices for 2010 Bordeaux are much more money and this is a better wine, if you have the funds, this is the wine to buy. When fully mature, I imagine my score could look stingy!

17,084 Views   Tasted
Opaque, ruby in color with smoke, ripe boysenberry, cassis, tobacco spice, licorice and fresh espresso. In the mouth, this is full-bodied, intense, sweet, pure, powerful and harmonious. The long, blackberry liqueur finish is further complicated by cassis, licorice and spice characteristics with mouth-coating, opulent textures and a finish that lasts alomst one full minute!

Opaque, ruby in color with smoke, ripe boysenberry, cassis, tobacco spice, licorice and fresh espresso. In the mouth, this is full-bodied, intense, sweet, pure, powerful and harmonious. The long, blackberry liqueur finish is further complicated by cassis, licorice and spice characteristics with mouth-coating, opulent textures and a finish that lasts alomst one full minute!

19,469 Views   Tasted
Regardless of how often I taste this almost perfect Bordeaux wine, I am always pleased as it truly delivers the goods. The wine is inky, pitch black in color. The expressive perfume explodes with spice, mocha, earth, mineral and cassis notes. Dense, intense and very concentrated. The fruit flows over your palate with layers of silk and chocolate. This is a very intense tasting experience. The finish lasts :50! Jean Guillaume does not agree, but for my palate and money, this is the Cos to buy and cellar. It is First Growth in quality.

Regardless of how often I taste this almost perfect Bordeaux wine, I am always pleased as it truly delivers the goods. The wine is inky, pitch black in color. The expressive perfume explodes with spice, mocha, earth, mineral and cassis notes. Dense, intense and very concentrated. The fruit flows over your palate with layers of silk and chocolate. This is a very intense tasting experience. The finish lasts :50! Jean Guillaume does not agree, but for my palate and money, this is the Cos to buy and cellar. It is First Growth in quality.

9,273 Views   Tasted
Black as the midnight sky. Completely inky in color. This huge Bordeaux wine is concentrated with countless layers of rich, ripe, spicy black fruit and incense. The wine fills every taste receptor in your mouth. Very plush, polished, sexy and exotic. Will age for decades. The finish lasts over sixty seconds! The memories of tasting wines like this last a lot longer.

Black as the midnight sky. Completely inky in color. This huge Bordeaux wine is concentrated with countless layers of rich, ripe, spicy black fruit and incense. The wine fills every taste receptor in your mouth. Very plush, polished, sexy and exotic. Will age for decades. The finish lasts over sixty seconds! The memories of tasting wines like this last a lot longer.

9,291 Views   Tasted
If you're seeking a Bordeaux wine that has it all, look no further. Your search is over. Inky black, purple in color. Complex aromatic and unbelievable levels of thick, dense, concentrated perfectly ripe fruit. This wine pours over your palate in layer after layer of pleasure. Absolutely compelling! This is one of those wines you never get tired of tasting because each sip gives you something new to experience. When this wine matures, it will develop into a legendary bottle of Bordeaux. Yes, Cos has gone up in price, but, the quality has dramatically ratcheted up as well. Cos D'Estournel not only talks the talk, he walks the walk. This is First Growth in quality.

If you're seeking a Bordeaux wine that has it all, look no further. Your search is over. Inky black, purple in color. Complex aromatic and unbelievable levels of thick, dense, concentrated perfectly ripe fruit. This wine pours over your palate in layer after layer of pleasure. Absolutely compelling! This is one of those wines you never get tired of tasting because each sip gives you something new to experience. When this wine matures, it will develop into a legendary bottle of Bordeaux. Yes, Cos has gone up in price, but, the quality has dramatically ratcheted up as well. Cos D'Estournel not only talks the talk, he walks the walk. This is First Growth in quality.

10,513 Views   Tasted

When to Drink Chateau Cos d'Estournel, Anticipated Maturity, Decanting Time

Chateau Cos d'Estournel can be enjoyed early, with a long decanting, but it is not when the wine shows its best. The wine is much better with several years of bottle age. Of course, that can vary slightly, depending on the vintage. Most vintages demand at least 12 to 20 years before the wine starts showing its best attributes.

Chateau Cos d'Estournel offers its best drinking and should reach peak maturity between 15-40 years of life. Young vintages can be decanted for 2-4 hours or more. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Serving Chateau Cos d'Estournel with Wine, Food, Pairing Tips

Chateau Cos d'Estournel is best served at 15.5 degrees Celsius, 60 degrees Fahrenheit. The cool, almost cellar temperature gives the wine more freshness and lift. Young vintages can be decanted for 2-4 hours. This allows the wine to soften and open its perfume. Older vintages might need very little decanting, just enough to remove the sediment.

Chateau Cos d'Estournel is perfect for pairing with all types of classic meat dishes, veal, pork, beef, lamb, duck, game, roast chicken, roasted braised, and grilled dishes. Cos d'Estournel is also good with Asian dishes, hearty fish courses like tuna, mushrooms, and pasta.

Cos d'Estournel Blanc and other wines of the estate

Chateau Cos d'Estournel also makes a dry, white Bordeaux wine, Cos d'Estournel Blanc from a 10 hectare parcel of vines. The wine is produced from a blend of of approximately 80% Sauvignon Blanc and 20% Semillon, although that can vary depending on the vintage. The white wine grapes are grown north of Saint Estephe, in the Jau-Dignac and Loirac regions.

In 2018, to improve the quality of their white wine, the estate introduced a second white wine, Pagodes de Cos Blanc. Most of the vines used to produce Pagodes de Cos Blanc were previously used in Goulee Blanc, which is no longer in production.

For the white wine of Cos d'Estournel, the terroir is a mix of sand, clay, small stones and limestone soils. The vineyard is close to their Goulee property, which is in the Medoc, directly north of Saint Estephe which is a naturally cooler terroir.

The debut vintage for Chateau Cos d'Estournel Blanc was 2005. For the first few vintages, the production was close to 100 cases.

Because the initial production was so small, the wine was not available for sale as a future until 2009. At that point, the production rose to close to 200 cases, which was considered enough for their white Bordeaux wine to be offered as a future.

To produce Cos d'Estournel Blanc, the wine is barrel fermented and aged in a combination of new and one-year-old, French oak barrels to maintain maximum freshness. There is no malolactic fermentation or skin contact. The wine is best enjoyed in its youth. The wine is sold as a generic AOC Bordeaux Blanc.

Cos d'Estournel Blanc is best served with all types of seafood and various cheeses.

Chateau Cos d'Estournel makes a second wine, Les Pagodes de Cos, which was first produced with the 1994 vintage. Originally, the second wine was called Marbuzet. The majority of the fruit came from their vineyard called Marbuzet, hence the name. The name was changed after both properties were purchased by Michel Reybier.

Today, the grapes used in the second wine, Les Pagodes de Cos can from time to time, include fruit from Marbuzet, their other estate in St. Estephe, as well as grapes from young vines and declassified wine intended for Cos d'Estournel.

Since 2005, Les Pagodes de Cos has morphed into one of the better second wines in all of Bordeaux. On average, Les Pagodes de Cos is aged in 40% new, French oak barrels.

In 2003, the Reybier group produced their debut vintage of Goulee by Cos d'Estournel from a vineyard they own in the Medoc, which is situated north of St. Estephe. In 2009 Michel Reybier and Chateau Cos d'Estournel purchased vineyards in Tokaji with they obtained the Hetszolo estate.

Michel Reybier is also an investor in Champagne, with a company he owns, The Pressoirs de France group. The company is a large supplier of bulk and inexpensive Champagne to big supermarkets in England. The wine is sold as Michel Reybier Champagne. In 2020, Michel Reybier purchased a large vineyard in Provence, Chateau La Mascaronne.

More than just interests in vineyards takes place in Bordeaux for the owner of Cos d'Estournel. In 2019, they opened a high-end hotel in Saint Estephe, La Maison d'Estournel on the site of the previously named Chateau Pomys. The hotel has 14 well-appointed guest rooms and suites, a restaurant, and a wine-tasting bar. In addition, Reybier also owns the luxury chain of hotels, La Reserve.

Starting with the 2012 vintage, Cos d'Estournel began to use the Tesa system of anti-counterfeiting measures as well, allowing consumers to verify the authenticity of their bottle with the use of a bar code sticker that is placed on the label and the original wood case.

www.estournel.com