2017 Chateau Cos d'Estournel - 2eme Cru St. Estephe

Decanter.com – 94 pts – JA: *Had a few issues with brett on the first bottle of this, but tasted again (twice for reassurance) and this has an unmistakably rich ripeness to it. Successful polishing and rounding out of the tannins that works to override the austerity of the vintage far better than many. Cassis and spiced damson character abounds, and it opens up in the glass slowly but determinedly. 60% new oak. Plenty of ageing capacity on display.* - 11/2019

Falstaff Magazin – 93 pts – PM: *Tiefdunkles Rubingranat, violette Reflexe, zarte Randaufhellung, Edelholzwürze, ein Hauch von Tabak, schwarze Beerenfrucht, zart nach Brombeeren und Kirschen, Mittlere Komplexität, mineralisch und fein strukturiert, präsentes, sehr gut integriertes Tannine, saliner Touch im Abgang, elegant und balanciert, ein facettenreicher Speisenbegleiter.* - 05/2018

Weinwisser – 18/20pts - GL: *66 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 32 % Merlot, 1 % Petit Verdot, 1 % Cabernet Franc. 43 hl/ha. 40 % Grand Vin. Granatrubin mit funkelnden Reflexen und violettem Rand. Komplexes, rotbeeriges Bouquet, Wildkirsche, rote Johannisbeeren und Eisenkraut. Im zweiten Ansatz würziges Rosenholz und heller Tabak. Am eleganten Gaumen mit seidigem Tannin und gutem Zug. Im geradlinigen Finale mit Wacholder und Kirschhäuten, der Wein wirkt aktuell etwas burschikos und endet mit zarter Adstringenz. Zurück zur Klassik!* – 05/2018

JancisRobinson.com – 17+/20pts – TP: *Tasted blind. Deep ruby colour. Cured meats, black pepper and summer fruits on the nose. Graphite and cassis on the palate, together with more of that meaty oak spice. Fairly rich and ripe for the vintage, with lots of exotic spice character and wood tannin. An attempt to be plush that is fairly successful – it retains the better elements of freshness in the vintage.* - 09/2021

Vinous.com – 95 pts – AG: *A bold, dramatic wine, the 2017 Cos d'Estournel is seriously impressive today. Time in barrel has done wonders for the 2017, a wine that has really gained depth in élevage. Black cherry, chocolate, spice, new leather, licorice, smoke and incense infuse the 2017 with tons of character, with the 60% new oak very well judged. In 2017, Cos has a level of textural resonance that eludes many Saint-Estèphes. The blend is 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc.* - 12/2019

Vinous.com - 95 pts - NM: *The 2017 Cos d´Estournel showed extremely well from barrel and likewise in bottle, continuing this estate´s strong run of form since the 2014 vintage. You instantaneously fall in love with the nose that bursts forth with blackberry, raspberry coulis, crushed stone, iodine and pressed iris petal. The 60% new oak is beautifully integrated. Quintessentially Cos d´Estournel. The palate is medium-bodied with supple black fruit laced with black truffle and graphite, quite Pauillac-like in style, which is no surprise given its location. This is very focused and perhaps understated compared to the 2016, yet its freshness and vivacity are undeniable. "Streamlined, cool and linear" I wrote at en primeur... I have no reason to alter that sentiment.* 10/2019

Thewinecellarinsider.com – 97 pts – JL: *Quite dark in color, the wine is full bodied, concentrated, lushly textured and offers a serious depth of flavor. Power and elegance make a perfect pairing here. The glycerin filled finish coats your palate, leaving you with a mélange of dark fruits that keep going for almost 50 seconds. The wine was made from blending 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 32% Merlot, 1% Petit Verdot and 1% Cabernet Franc, reaching 13% alcohol with a pH of 3.7. The harvest took place September 12 to September 30 and the Grand Vin was made from only 40% of the harvest.* - 04/2018