2005 Château Cos d'Estournel St. Estèphe Bordeaux France Wine Tasting Note

136967 Views

2005 Château Cos d'Estournel  (St. Estèphe) 96 Firm, full-bodied, powerful, concentrated, youthful, and tannic, it is going to take at least another 5 years in the cellar before this becomes entirely civilized, dropping more of its strict nature so you can enjoy all the ripe currants, blackberries, spice, and earthy nuances. From there, you should be able to enjoy this with ease for at least 25 more years. Firm, full-bodied, powerful, concentrated, youthful, and tannic, it is going to take at least another 5 years in the cellar before this becomes entirely civilized, dropping more of its strict nature so you can enjoy all the ripe currants, blackberries, spice, and earthy nuances. From there, you should be able to enjoy this with ease for at least 25 more years. 7,179 Views   Tasted May 30, 2022  • Buy This Wine For The Lowest Price DOWNLOAD TASTING NOTE | Post to Youthful, deep, rich and powerful, the wine is full-bodied, intense, aromatic, rich, lush, long and youthful. The spicy, ripe fruits taste and feel great as they fill your palate. However, it is important to note that the wine requires another 3-5 years in the cellar before it fills out, softens and really comes into its own. Youthful, deep, rich and powerful, the wine is full-bodied, intense, aromatic, rich, lush, long and youthful. The spicy, ripe fruits taste and feel great as they fill your palate. However, it is important to note that the wine requires another 3-5 years in the cellar before it fills out, softens and really comes into its own. 9,548 Views   Tasted Jun 23, 2021 This just keeps getting better and better as it slowly works its way to maturity. The wine is deep, full-bodied, concentrated and multi-faceted. The gorgeous fruit is perfectly ripe, sweet, round, opulent and fresh. Still youthful, give it 7-10 years and this will be a rockstar wine with all its sensuous textures accompanied by complex aromatics and a long finish, perfect to show off its purity and poise. This just keeps getting better and better as it slowly works its way to maturity. The wine is deep, full-bodied, concentrated and multi-faceted. The gorgeous fruit is perfectly ripe, sweet, round, opulent and fresh. Still youthful, give it 7-10 years and this will be a rockstar wine with all its sensuous textures accompanied by complex aromatics and a long finish, perfect to show off its purity and poise. 8,752 Views   Tasted Oct 19, 2019 Even though this is still holding on to its youth, it is impossible not to see the level of quality found here. Concentrated, deep, long and intense, the fruit offers lift, length, purity and a smoky, spicy, black and blue character. The tannins are polished, but still present. Give this another 5-8 years and it will offer a better experience. Even though this is still holding on to its youth, it is impossible not to see the level of quality found here. Concentrated, deep, long and intense, the fruit offers lift, length, purity and a smoky, spicy, black and blue character. The tannins are polished, but still present. Give this another 5-8 years and it will offer a better experience. 10,195 Views   Tasted Nov 24, 2018 It's been a few years since I last tasted this wine, and it has not moved an inch. Firm, tannic, powerful, concentrated and with a deep tannic spice, there is a wall of fruit. The ripe, sweet, dark berries are complicated by the smoke, vanilla, tobacco, tobacco, herbs and red berry notes. There is depth and volume. There is no doubting the quality but the wine comes with a tannic wall that will need a decade , but it's going to require another decade before it softens and takes on additional secondary notes. It's been a few years since I last tasted this wine, and it has not moved an inch. Firm, tannic, powerful, concentrated and with a deep tannic spice, there is a wall of fruit. The ripe, sweet, dark berries are complicated by the smoke, vanilla, tobacco, tobacco, herbs and red berry notes. There is depth and volume. There is no doubting the quality but the wine comes with a tannic wall that will need a decade , but it's going to require another decade before it softens and takes on additional secondary notes. 11,102 Views   Tasted Mar 1, 2018 Showing some lightening around the edges, the wine pops with cigar box, tobacco, dark chocolate, Asian spice and earthy aromatics. Fresh, ripe, sweet, long, clean, focused fruits easily move from black to red and return to black. The present tannins are smooth. The wine remains young and fresh. 5 years in the cellar will add a lot to this beauty, if you can keep your hands off it. Showing some lightening around the edges, the wine pops with cigar box, tobacco, dark chocolate, Asian spice and earthy aromatics. Fresh, ripe, sweet, long, clean, focused fruits easily move from black to red and return to black. The present tannins are smooth. The wine remains young and fresh. 5 years in the cellar will add a lot to this beauty, if you can keep your hands off it. 12,974 Views   Tasted Jun 28, 2015 Starting to wake up from its slumber, the wine has a spicy, rich, silky character that fills your mouth with soft, polished, deep, round fruits and tannins. Still young, either decant for a few hours or wait a decade before popping a cork. Starting to wake up from its slumber, the wine has a spicy, rich, silky character that fills your mouth with soft, polished, deep, round fruits and tannins. Still young, either decant for a few hours or wait a decade before popping a cork. 19,320 Views   Tasted Jul 19, 2014 Deep ruby in color, with some lightening at the edges, tobacco, smoke, 5 spice, blackberry, cassis, cigar box and earthy aromas create the complex perfume. Full bodied and concentrated with flavor, this tannic, intense, long, fresh, pure wine demands cellaring. Give it at least a decade to soften and come together. This will be a very long lived wine and well reward consumers with the ability to wait, with a sublime tasting experience. Deep ruby in color, with some lightening at the edges, tobacco, smoke, 5 spice, blackberry, cassis, cigar box and earthy aromas create the complex perfume. Full bodied and concentrated with flavor, this tannic, intense, long, fresh, pure wine demands cellaring. Give it at least a decade to soften and come together. This will be a very long lived wine and well reward consumers with the ability to wait, with a sublime tasting experience. 18,046 Views   Tasted May 1, 2012 This looks like black ink. Oak, Cassis, blackberry, spice, coffee and licorice make a beautiful perfume. In the mouth, you get a blast of ripe, black fruit with a long finish. Tannic, but the tannins are polished. I would not drink this Bordeaux wine young. But I think it will be open and offer pleasure before the 06. I hate to say it, as much as I love the 05 and I do love it, I still prefer the 03 This looks like black ink. Oak, Cassis, blackberry, spice, coffee and licorice make a beautiful perfume. In the mouth, you get a blast of ripe, black fruit with a long finish. Tannic, but the tannins are polished. I would not drink this Bordeaux wine young. But I think it will be open and offer pleasure before the 06. I hate to say it, as much as I love the 05 and I do love it, I still prefer the 03 19,055 Views   Tasted Jun 28, 2009 Almost black in color. This is a massive wine with gobs of ripe, black fruit with hints of fennel and equal amounts of tannin. This has a lot of structure and will need serious cellar time. Due to the intense concentration, the wine will reward cellaring, but, this is not a wine to enjoy young. Almost black in color. This is a massive wine with gobs of ripe, black fruit with hints of fennel and equal amounts of tannin. This has a lot of structure and will need serious cellar time. Due to the intense concentration, the wine will reward cellaring, but, this is not a wine to enjoy young. 10,369 Views   Tasted Nov 15, 2008 Opaque in color. Full bodied and concentrated with mountains of ripe dark berries, licorice, cassis, spice and tannin. The tannins are not as ripe or polished as those found in the 2003. The wine does not appear to share the same levels of complexity as the 2003 either. Make no mistake, this is outstanding, but if you could only have one, grab the 2003. Opaque in color. Full bodied and concentrated with mountains of ripe dark berries, licorice, cassis, spice and tannin. The tannins are not as ripe or polished as those found in the 2003. The wine does not appear to share the same levels of complexity as the 2003 either. Make no mistake, this is outstanding, but if you could only have one, grab the 2003. 10,427 Views   Tasted Jun 27, 2007

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