Château Cos d'Estournel Saint-Estèphe Red Bordeaux Blend 2005

Jay Kline

Presented to me, double-blind. The wine pours a deep garnet color with an opaque core; medium viscosity with moderate staining of the tears, and some signs of light sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with a mix of ripe and desiccated, mostly dark fruits: cassis, black cherry, plum, mixed brambles, old leather, pipe tobacco, pencil shavings, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin (that is mostly integrated) and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long. Initial conclusions: this could be a Cabernet-based Bordeaux blend, Tempranillo (or based blend) or Grenache-based blend from France, Spain or the United States. I feel like this leans more towards its fruit than its structure, even though it is a fairly well balanced wine in both regards. As a result, I am calling this a Cabernet-based Bordeaux blend from the United States, California, Napa Valley, Howell Mountain from a producer like Dunn, 2006. Shiiiiiit. To be honest, I’m not terribly surprised since this is Cos and from a warm vintage no less. Drinking well now and should through 2050+.

Conrad Green

Bristol intense fruit. Dark fruit, licorice, glossy texture. Gorgeous. At the very start of drinking but lovely

Conrad Green

Intense cherry with a touch of tar. Iron and dense but very pure fruit. Good stuff but still tight and unyielding

Cathy Corison

Owner/Winemaker Corison Winery

Happy New Year with tasting group. Solid. Nice development. Still on the tight side.

Loren Grossman

Vintner Wilde Farm Wines

Powerful and complete. Black fruit, licorice, smoke and lots of structure. Excellent balance and integration. A pleasure with a tomahawk rib eye, or wait another 10-15 years.

Lee Pitofsky

From the superb 2005 vintage. Deep, powerful, masculine and layered, clearly still in its youth but wow this will be phenomenal. Already showing nicely with rich blackberries, cassis, newly bloomed violets, mocha, leather and hints of tea leaves. Finishes long and intense with plenty of grip.

Daron Watson

Wow ~ of all the vintages in the flight this one did it for me! Sumptuous nose as well but far from subtle. Flavors run deep starting red but quickly turning black. Strong structure of the vintage still there but finally shedding a few layers of tannins revealing walls of mocha and truffle. D!G

James Forsyth

A stunning wine. Really beautiful. Dark and intense. Drinks incredibly well now and has been for a while. I’ve had this a few times and consistently excellent. A beauty.

Conrad Green

This is young but wonderfully seductive. Dense and lush with deep red fruit and some spice. On the palate, wood still present but the fruit is deep and sexy and succulent. In years ahead this’ll be amazing but it has huge promise.

Chris McClellan

Had 200 vintage not long ago, great cherry and slight blackcherry, great acid and well balanced tannin and oak. Just love the purity of the fruit..my WOTN. 78% cab , 19% merlot..