Chateau Cos d'Estournel 2008

Professional Ratings

• 95 Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
  The medium to deep garnet colored 2008 Cos d'Estournel is blended of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot and 2% Cabernet Franc. Pow! The nose explodes with notes of baked cherries, preserved plums, fried herbs, beef drippings and warm cassis with wafts of wood smoke, salami and tobacco leaf. Medium-bodied, the palate is elegant and earthy/savory in character, sporting beautifully ripe, grainy tannins and bags of freshness, finishing on a lingering mineral note.
• 95 Wine Enthusiast
  This big, smoky wine has great richness and a big, concentrated structure. The feel is dark, solid, based on spice, new wood and ripe black plums touched with red berries, the tannins sheltering beneath.
• 95 Jeb Dunnuck
  The first vintage made at the new winery, the 2008 Cos d’Estournel is drinking beautifully today, with terrific complexity as well as a silky, polished style on the palate. Made from 85% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, and 2% Cabernet Franc and revealing copious amounts of crème de cassis and black cherry fruit intermixed with notes of toasted bread, spice, and cedar, it hits the palate with full-bodied richness, a silky, sexy texture, and sweet tannin. Count me in as a fan. This beauty can be drunk today or cellared for another 15-20 years.
• 93 James Suckling
  A delicate and pretty Cos. Aromas of blackberries, cherries and spices follow through to a full body, with fine tannins and a chocolate, berry and light coffee character. Long and caressing. Give it a a few years of bottle age before opening.
• 90 Wine Spectator
  Quite juicy, with a mouthwatering edge to the damson plum, mulled cherry and red currant fruit. Modest acidity, fine-grained tannins and flashy spice and iron notes drive the finish. There's excellent integration and harmony for the vintage. Drink now through 2019.