Château Cos d'Estournel 2024

Luminous ruby red; delicate yet profound nose, very floral, radiant fruit, herbal-spicy notes, a peerless perfume; the attack is subtle, almost shy, then the wine unfolds, very good structure, great elegance, finest tannins, wonderful acidity; this Cos shows drinkability and finesse, lingers long, and finishes on a mix of blackberries, blackcurrants, and blood oranges. A Cos of great elegance.

Wonderful fragrance coming out of the glass, perfumed notes with cedar, cherry and chocolate. Juicy, sweetly chewy and grippy, this has so much personality straight away with such density in the mouth for the vintage but so well controlled. Great intensity and follow through with a direct line but not too lean at all. Freshness is there but ripeness is too so you have a great combination of structure and focus. Precise and refined but utterly joyful too. It keeps a straight line towards the finish, narrowing with cola, liquorice and slate but this will grow over ageing. Wonderful, a great effort. 13% press. 0.5% Petit Verdot completes the blend. Ageing 50% new barrels. 3.57 pH. A yield of 30 hl/ha. Kept organic status.

With a pleasing depth of color, the wine exudes a blend of dark currants, Asian spices, flowers, smoke, and crème de cassis, enhancing the aromatic profile. On the palate, the wine is fresh, supple, elegant, and almost creamy, providing the perfect backdrop for its layers of mineral-driven fruits. This is an excellent example of a modern take on old-school classicism. Allow it a few years to develop further, and it will be even better. This shows remarkable strength for the vintage. The wine comprises 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot, and 1% Cabernet Franc, with 13% press wine. It has an ABV of 12.8% and a pH of 3.57. The harvest occurred from September 23 to October 7, yielding 30 hectoliters per hectare. The Grand Vin was produced from 46% of the harvest. The wine will be approachable early in its life, yet it possesses the potential to age for decades. Drink from 2029-2060. 94-96 Pts

The nose is aromatically complex, offering depth, mystery, profound aromas, and lovely finesse/delicacy within its power. It reveals notes of Boysenberry, small roasted–elegant red berries, with touches of violet, cornflower, camphor, and small roasted–elegant red fruits, as well as a hint of concentrated blueberry and delicate infusion notes. A hint of red pepper and a very discreet touch of saffron (on its floral side) on the nose. The palate is beautifully handled, fresh, supple, offering lovely definition, gourmandise, and a pleasing, sustained mid-palate. It also shows relief, a 3D feel, and depth. On the palate, this wine expresses notes of ripe wild blackcurrant, fairly ripe red cherry, and, more subtly, crushed blueberry, combined with touches of cornflower, small bright red berries, as well as hints of lily, Cubeb pepper, a hint of infusion, iodine, and graphite. A subtle, almost vanilla note and cinnamon in the background. The tannins are plush. A wine offering flesh, freshness, and a dark/infused freshness. A subtle sappy and saline hint revives the finish. A wine that delivers a lovely finish—melted, gourmand, and harmonious—with elegant aromatic darkness and finely judged power.