Château Cos d'Estournel 2016

Restrained aromatics; superb from the outset, full without seeming broad, dense, ample tannins, immense length, pure grape, no noticeable oak; the greatest Cos in recent years.

This has a core of slightly exotic loganberry, plum and boysenberry fruit laced with singed spice, savory, lilac and incense notes, while a buried chalk-edged minerality sits in reserve. Very sleek, with a wonderfully long finish that lets the fruit and other elements shimmer. Best from 2025 through 2040. 15,833 cases made.

Cos continues to cement its place at the top of the second growths. It has moved on from the emphasis on heft and ripeness to a much more polished, elegant style. This 2016 retains the structure, with 70% new oak adding to the glossy, smooth tannins and palate feel, while bringing in intense blackcurrant fruit, Asian spices, leafy hints and plenty of mineral drive on the finish. Much more drinkable than, say, 2009/2010.

This is muscular yet so well defined and toned. Full-bodied with deep and dense fruit on the palate, yet powerful and rich at the same time. So much sandalwood and blackberry character. Chewy and rich at the finish. This is a warm and generous wine, but the alcohol is just over 13 degrees. Not that high. Love the finish. Extravagant. Magical. Try from 2025.

You could lose count if you were trying to number all the layers of velvet-drenched, powerful, lifted, sweet, fresh deep red fruits here. The wine offers incredible levels of concentration along with precision, purity, power and elegance. But to take all this in at its peak, patience is required, as you will need at least 12 years or so before this really starts shining. But it is going to be worth the wait.

Deep dark ruby, opaque core, subtle brightening on the rim. Intense noble wood savouriness, blackberry conserve, a hint of ripe cherry and plum, some nougat and candied orange zest. Juicy, attractive cherry fruit, delicate sweetness, well-integrated tannins, mineral and fresh structure, shows good length with a lemony touch on the finish.

Pure nose offering new oak, butterscotch, red and dark fruit with aromatic herbs. Muscular palate with a high freshness, youthful texture with dense tannin, fresh red berry fruit, dried herbs, a hint of oak and a spicy long finish.

The grand vin 2016 Cos d'Estournel checks in as 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, and 1% Cabernet Franc that saw 70% new French oak. One of the more seamless, pure, elegant versions of this cuvée out there, it boasts a saturated purple color as well as a monster nose of pure crème de cassis, gravelly, rocky minerality, tobacco leaf, crushed violets, and lead pencil shavings. One of those “iron fist in a velvet glove” wines, with full-bodied richness and beautiful structure that’s covered by thrilling levels of fruit and texture, it stays tight, compact, and incredibly focused on the palate. It’s already brilliant given its purity of fruit and balance, but it deserves a decade of bottle age and will keep for 4-5 decades.

76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc. 45% Grand Vin, 45 hl/ha. What a delicate perfume of iris and violet! Behind it, red cherries, hints of graphite and coconut, as well as a noble mocha-chocolate note. On the powerful palate with powdery tannins, Cos remains elegant and finishes in a very long, complex finale with blackcurrant and plum skin. Back to pure classicism!

Kunz barrel sample 17: (76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 45 hl/ha, 45% Grand Vin, 13.07% alc.) Fine, opulent, powerful, complex bouquet of prunes, black cherries, delicate dried fruits, mocha cream, mint, tobacco, currants. Creamy, tightly knit, elegant palate with powerful dark fruit, plenty of fine tannins, a concentrated, plush structure, dense, dark and multifaceted aromatics, and a very long, finely lavish finish with sweet echoes.

Fine, opulent, dense, powerful and fresh bouquet: damson, plum, light tobacco, licorice, redcurrant jelly. Balanced, fragrant, refined palate with sweet fruit, fine-grained tannins, powerful aromatics, and a long, fresh finish. Still has room to improve. 18/20 2023 - 2042

Exceptional quality, silky tannins, cinnamon, turmeric, cloves, grilled liquorice root, crushed rocks, almost seamless, so full of life and character, with brambled fruit. Chocolate, damson, so juicy and characterful, singing of Saint-Estèphe character, this is the appellation at its best. Decades ahead of it. Shame about the heavy bottle. 100% new oak. Michel Reybier owner, Aymeric de Gironde director (his last year in the role before heading over to Troplong Mondot).

Deep garnet in color, the 2016 Cos d'Estournel is quite closed to start, requiring a lot of coaxing to bring out profound notions of crème de cassis, wild blueberries, black cherry compote, and rose oil, leading to suggestions of Indian spices, crushed rocks, and dried lavender. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is both opulent and energetic, revealing loads of perfumed black fruit layers and a plush, polished texture, finishing with epic length and depth.

Slight reduction that blows off with aeration, full-bodied, refined cedar notes, precise and clean, with a decent quality-price ratio.

2016 is a great success, allowing the cru to return to a more refined style. The palate is broad and fleshy, with abundant tannins, yet refined.

Nose of red fruits, wild strawberries, floral notes, small black berries, very light oak. Very fresh palate, vibrant juice, very elegant, aristocratic tannins, lovely energy, a saline, mineral touch. Very long. Superb wine.

Deep purple. Intense, complex bouquet with many facets. It combines spicy notes (black pepper), chocolate tones and fruit with blackcurrant and blackberry. I also detect graphite and cedar. Silky, appetizing attack. On the palate, the wine shows breadth, power and finesse and, above all, a beautiful harmony between freshness, pedigree and strength. The tannins have a very fine grain and work brilliantly in the background, bringing a pleasant sweetness. They stand up to a structure that is characterful, distinguished and fruit-driven. Subtly fresh, fruity finish. A great Cos that needs time in the cellar.

The nose is fruity, beautifully elegant and racy, offering power, richness and energy. It reveals notes of blackcurrant and cherry, and lighter hints of flowers (lilac, lily, violet), accented by subtle touches of red fruits and an imperceptible hint of grey pepper. The palate is racy and balanced, with lovely elegance and finesse, a very finely tightened structure, good definition, appealing juiciness, a clear guideline/energy, smoothness, attractive substance, opulence (while remaining elegant), great delicacy, fine grain, silkiness and a mineral backbone. On the palate, the wine expresses notes of black cherry and blackberry, with lighter fleshy/crushed blackcurrant, small touches of crunchy/fresh raspberry, crunchy/juicy red berries, violet/flowers, discreet hints of spices, very subtle notes of chocolate, Bourbon vanilla, caramelization, cardamom and sweet spices, as well as an imperceptible hint of hazelnut and almond. The tannins are fine, elegant and structuring. A very lovely wine! (+2025)

The best ever made! Dark, intense, purple, and beautiful color. An intense, refined nose with ripe fruit. Powerful. Soft on the attack, then dense and silky, with classy texture; the wine glides from mid-palate to finish, building as it goes, complex and long. It has plenty of energy and plenty of flavor too. Fine, present tannins. Blend: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc, 23% Merlot.

Powerful tannins show strongly in this elegant, structured wine. Rich black-currant and black-plum flavors are lifted by acidity. The wine has weight and concentration, but also is poised and fresh. This combination will allow the wine to age for many years. Drink from 2025.