Château Cos Labory 2021

Fragrant and floral, with herbal notes, blood orange and cassis. Taut palate, noticeable tannins, well-supported acidity, a red-fruited, bitter, spicy finish. Has character, needs some aging.

A strong effort, the 2021 Cos Labory offers up aromas of rich berries, cherries and licorice mingled with sweet soil tones and pencil shavings. Medium to full-bodied, ample and fleshy, it’s round and seamless, with unusual depth of fruit for the vintage, concluding with an expansive finish.

Shows juiciness to offset the tangy acidity, while the core of black cherry and damson plum reveals a gently mulled edge. The back end lets chalk and black tea accents play out. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2025 through 2033. 7,000 cases made.

Gently fleshy and ripe on the palate, this has chew and bounce to the expression with ripe strawberry and blackcurrant, plus a really enjoyable wet stone and liquorice element. This is a great effort this year, with lovely long length and persistence. Juicy—really juicy—with blackcurrant and strawberry lift. Lovely freshness all the way through. Appealing and easy to recommend.

A tight yet fragrant red showing aromas of sliced strawberries, chocolate, nutmeg and currants. Medium-bodied, nicely firm, with a sleek and elegant finish. Best from 2025.

The 2021 Cos Labory, matured in 50% new oak, has a simple, light, slightly rustic bouquet with mulberry and briny scents. The palate is slightly coarse on the entry, but there is decent depth and ample freshness. I have no complaints about this Saint-Estèphe, now under the umbrella of Cos d’Estournel, of course. I appreciate the sapidity on the finish, and it will drink well for 10 to 15 years.

With a floral edge to the nose, you also find black currants, tobacco leaf, smoke, and cherries in the bouquet. The medium-bodied palate is bright, with a salty, crushed-stone accent to the chewy, firm finish. Give it just a year or two before pulling a cork. Drink from 2025–2038.

Dark ruby garnet colour with purple reflections, delicate ochre rim. Nuances of dark berries, black cherries, some bergamot and cherry, subtle nuances of precious wood, a hint of nougat in the background. Taut, with notes of red berries, good balance and fresh acidity, ripe, supporting tannins, mineral in the aftertaste, will benefit from further bottle ageing.

The 2021 Château Cos Labory is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and 7% Petit Verdot. Its medium ruby hue is followed by a spicy, red and black-fruited, medium-bodied 2021 with a rounded, easygoing mouthfeel, ripe yet chewy tannins, and a good finish. This estate was purchased by Cos d’Estournel's Michel Reybier in 2023, and it will be interesting to see what changes take place going forward. While the 2021 was bottled by the team of Cos d'Estournel, the 2023 will be the first vintage where the new team has had full control.

Kunz barrel sample 2022: (33% Merlot, 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 32 hl/ha, 12.9% vol. alcohol, production 72,000 bottles) Velvety, fruity bouquet, plums, toasted notes, vanilla, dark tobacco. Creamy, full palate with good fruit, fine tannins, dense structure, powerful aromatics, long, aromatic finish. Has room to improve.

(33% Merlot, 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Petit Verdot, 32 hl/ha, 12.9% vol. alcohol, production 72,000 bottles) Velvety, fruity bouquet, plums, roasted notes, vanilla, dark tobacco. Creamy, full palate with good fruit, fine tannins, dense structure, powerful aromatics, long, aromatic finish. Can still improve. 17/20 2028 - 2048

Old-school, as I found En Primeur, charming but very much on the savoury side, with cloves and black pepper and a kick of leafy blackcurrant fruit. 32 hl/ha yield, 50% new oak. The last year under the Audoy family; 2022 will be the first (partly) under the Cos d'Estournel regime. Axel Marchal consulting for part of the ageing of this, fully from 2022. Recorded blend different from En Primeur.

A blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, and 7% Petit Verdot, the 2021 Cos Labory is deep purple-black in color. It features open-knit notes of fresh raspberries and blackberries, opening out to tilled soil, tree bark, and wet pebbles, with a touch of dried herbs. The light-bodied palate has great tension with pure, vibrant black and red berry flavors and a chewy texture, finishing with an earthy lift. Cos d’Estournel is the new owner and for this vintage their technical director, Dominique Arangoïts, oversaw the bottling.

This cru consistently shows a supple, pleasant, and classic character. The oak is still a little pronounced, but the substance is beautiful, with a lovely grain and fruit. From experience, we are confident in its potential. Give it 5–6 years; it should be delicious.

A little diluted and fragile on the nose, then juicy and precise on the palate, with lovely acidity and a sweet-toned finish.

For now, the oak still dominates the wine, yet spicy and fruity nuances are already emerging. Slender in style, the wine has muscle and a touch of flesh. It has tannins that provide vigor and a structure that carries its temperament. Perhaps there was a desire to do too much? In any case, the wine needs time to blossom. One to follow as it evolves, though I remain a bit doubtful.

Beautiful dark, purple color. Fruity and slightly discreet nose. Soft on the attack, flavorful mid-palate, very fruity; the wine caresses the palate before showing a touch of tannin on the finish, yet well-wrapped. Medium length. Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 33% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot. Alcohol: 12.9%. pH: 3.83 – IPT: 78. Yield: 32 hl/ha.

Black fruit and dark-chocolate aromas are followed by fragrant black-currant flavors with a balanced core of tannins. Now owned by neighboring Cos d'Estournel, this estate is beginning to show signs of a new life. Drink from 2027.